Klarinet Archive - Posting 000687.txt from 2002/03

From: Audrey Travis <vsofan@-----.ca>
Subj: Re: [kl] bifocals in the orchestra
Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2002 16:49:41 -0500

Daniel
I have a set of bifocals which address this type of problem directly. First,
take a music stand and a variety of sheet music with different size print to
your opthamologist and get him/her to give you a reading glasses prescription
for the distance you require to your music stand and music. Next, get whoever
eyeglass store to cut the reading glass portion much higher than they would for
normal bifocals. Here, too, it would be smart to have your music stand and
sheet music with you so they can work with you, noting how high/low you like to
place your stand, etc. You'll probably need only a narrow slit at the top for
your distance portion to see the conductor clearly, but a much, much larger
portion of the frame for the actual reading of music. This is called an
"executive cut". Since the distance to your music stand is probably greater
than the distance you'd need to read a book, you'll probably need 2 different
sets of bifocals, or the pair I've described and a simple pair of reading
glasses. My teacher, principal of the Vancouver Symphony uses the executive
cut and so do I, but for my conducting work, so I can see the music on my stand
clearly and also see my students. Works great!

Daniel Paprocki wrote:

> Here's my problem. I have had cataract surgery on both of my eyes. Both
> eyes are now at a fixed focus of about 3-4 feet for music. For distance I
> use glasses but then can not see music or do reading. My last surgery was a
> month ago and last week I had my first orchestra performance with my new
> vision restrictions. With no glasses I could read the music fine and could
> see the beat pattern of the conductor but not super sharp. I would like to
> have both music and conductor in focus. I'm now trying progressive lenses
> but I think the music distance is too narrow and you have to continually
> move your head to keep the music in focus - this won't work with playing
> bass clarinet. For my orchestra work (Indianapolis Symphony and Evansville
> Philharmonic) I need absolute sharpness in my music.
> Also when I teach I need the 4 to 6 foot range in focus for reading the
> students music. Does anyone have similar problems and have any ideas on
> solutions. I've already checked the klarinet list archives and have read
> those responses.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Dan
> --
> Dr. Daniel A. Paprocki
> Professor of Clarinet and Saxophone
> Western Kentucky University
> Bowling Green, Kentucky
>
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