Klarinet Archive - Posting 000044.txt from 2010/10

From: "Bill Hausmann" <bhausmann1@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Old Fingers
Date: Wed, 06 Oct 2010 23:29:33 -0400

Plateau system Bb clarinets are notoriously difficult to keep in regulation.
Your problem may be a matter of minor misadjustments. Vitos are relatively
HIGH quality instruments, almost indistinguishable from professional
Leblancs except for body material.

Bill Hausmann

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is TOO LOUD!

> -----Original Message-----
> From: BarDu@-----.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, October 06, 2010 8:44 PM
> To: klarinet@-----.com
> Subject: Re: [kl] Old Fingers
>
> I have similar problems of the fingers not always covering the holes
> due to
> some peripheral
> nerve damage. I got a plateau system Vito, but the quality is so low
> that
> it is not enjoyable to play.
> Barbara
>
>
>
>
>
>
> In a message dated 10/6/2010 2:52:41 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> gkidder@-----.org writes:
>
> One possibility which seems often to be the case with me (age 76) is
> dry
> fingers, leading to failure to seal the holes completely. Oiling my
> fingers (almond oil, usually) some time in advance of playing seems to
> help. I wish this were my only problem!
>
> George
>
> At 01:57 PM 10/4/2010, you wrote:
> >I joined the Klarinet list about 18 months ago and have been a lurker
> >till now. I would just like to add my two cents worth to the
> >discussion of Jim Lytthan's post "Old Fingers." If Jim has "old
> >fingers", I have "old, old fingers." I'll turn 80 next June (retired
> >academic). I played the clarinet enthusiastically in my teens
> >(highschool orchestra), although my main instrument was piano. I
> >returned to the clarinet a few years ago in my retirement and have
> >been generally pleased with my ability to "reclaim" it - almost, I
> >think, to the point where I was at age 17 (on a good day upper
> >intermediate). However, like Jim I have had a problem with not always
> >properly closing the tone holes. It's not arthritis, my fingers are
> >straight. My theory is that in my case it is caused by a combination
> >of two things: 1) my "old fingers" (not as old as Stanley Drucker's,
> >of course, but almost) are bony and the little flesh left on them is
> >soft and mushy, not full and firm as in a younger person. This means
> I
> >have to press harder to seal the tone holes properly; 2) by pushing
> >harder I destabilize the instrument, which makes it harder for my
> >fingers (and thumb) to find the tone holes in order to close them
> >properly. A catch-22 situation. I have adopted a somewhat successful
> >method of dealing with this. To compensate for the instability of the
> >instrument I draw my knees together and rest the bell of the clarinet
> >in the cleft formed thereby. This largely solved the finger placement
> >problem, but it created some other problems. I had to adjust my
> >embouchure and blowing technique considerably. At this point,
> however,
> >I'm happy with the compromise with orthodoxy. It's less harmful to my
> >pride than a harness support would be, and hey! I'm never going to be
> >standing in front of an audience as a soloist. I have an acquaintance
> >who has switched to a plateau clarinet, but I haven't considered that
> >so far, on the theory "there's gotta be a catch." Any comment on
> >plateau Bb clarinets? Loss of tone quality and agility?
> >
> >Bob Glendinning
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>
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