Klarinet Archive - Posting 000379.txt from 2002/07

From: "Anthony Wakefield" <tony-w@-----.uk>
Subj: Re: [kl] False Front Teeth etc etc
Date: Wed, 17 Jul 2002 11:20:55 -0400

First of all, thanks to Mark for the advice re getting my mail accepted - it
was indeed the plain text/rich text re-ajustment which I had to reset for
that particular post.

Secondly, many thanks to Ken Shaw for his ever so re-assuring, and practical
advice on having a bridge fitted to the front teeth. I`m much more happy now
that I know and believe the forthcoming bridge will be secure for playing
purposes. Thanks Ken.

I have also come up against enormous problems with my eyesight. (I might as
well be 6` under, might not I? - but on the other hand, I just qualified [at
60] for a quite substantial govt grant for fuel bills for the forthcoming
winters, so perhaps I will at least stay warm - - - - -
Anyway, I am told that tri-focals which stretch right across the lens, like
I have, as opposed to tri-focals with little circles at the bottom of the
lens are no longer made. My optician advised me that she has, in all her
years, only ever prescribed ONE other tri-focal like mine. She tells me that
the one person who manufactured them for her has now left the profession to
become a postman!!
I bought and tried vari-focal, and was advised to try them for two weeks, in
order to "get used to them", before voicing any discomfort (if any). In 24
hours I had returned them to the optician, and was so pleased to have my old
(wrong) lens back again, if only for driving purposes. They were positively
a dangerous hazard to my driving. With vari-focal lens, one has to
constantly move the head from side to side in order to focus. This is not a
natural instinct, especially when driving at 70mph on a busy motorway. The
ONLY safe way to drive is to keep the head pointing immediately to the
front, and to move the eyes from side to side, in quick left-front, or
right-front movements. This method is safe, and it enables one to utilise
quick re-actions, which are so necessary in frequently occuring hazardous
situations. Using this method with vari-focals destoyed all my side vision
completely, and I had to immediately give up this new way of trying to focus
by moving the head. I wouldn`t be surprised if the vari-focal is a cause of
quite a few RTA`s.
Wait for it. When reading clarinet music, the page lifted up and down when
moving eyes to the side. When playing piano, the keyboard lifted up and down
when moving the eyes to the side, then back again.
I would recommend therefore that for any specific and totally accurate
requirements, that one should think twice before changing to vari-focals. I
believe they are hazardous, to the extent of not being functionally sound,
and indeed dangerous when driving. In UK I intend to contact the AA
(roadside assistance/insurance etc) to see what their reactions might be.
Meanwhile, I haven`t a clue as to which direction I can take in the future.
Certainly not vari-focal. I am fortunate in being able to retain 2 hours of
songs/instrumentals in the memory for my piano playing. At present, my
clarinet playing has been put on hold due to the dental treatment just
started.
I can imagine all of you visualising me hobbling along with a stick. Well I
ain`t THAT far gone!!
D`yu know, in a few years time, if the composers omit the clarinet in their
compositions, as far as my experience goes with my eyesight, I can forsee
the clarinet manufactures saying, "Sorry, we don`t make them any more due to
no demand". we`d all then have to learn to play the electric guitar!!!!!
Just think - - - the Mozart electric guitar concerto in A major! Mendelssohn
for electric guitar and bassett guitar? Whad`ya think?

That`s all for now. Sorry to include so much - - so much to catch up on.
Tony W.

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