Klarinet Archive - Posting 000110.txt from 2012/02

From: fred jacobowitz <fbjacobo@-----.us>
Subj: Re: [kl] (no subject)
Date: Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:42:47 -0500

Kurt,

The reason thumb rests aren't higher is that they can't screw the
things into the tenon receiver. The wood isn't thick enough at that
spot to guarantee it won't crack from the strain. However, they could
do what my buddy did for me. He braised a thumb rest onto the metal
ring at the top of the lower joint. Works like a charm. Now the thumb
rest is in the right place. And I had him add 1/4 inch of cork for my
thumb to rest on, which fattens the instrument out a bit, making it
much more ergonomically comfortable. He lives in Annapolis, MD and
his name is Roger Young. He does fabulous work - he's a real old-
style craftsman.

Fred Jacobowitz

CASE CLOSED Musical Instrument Case Repair Service
Kol Haruach Klezmer Band
Ebony and Ivory Duo

You don't get harmony when everybody sings the same note.
~Doug Floyd

On Feb 9, 2012, at 4:23 PM, kurtheisig@-----.net wrote:

Hi Janice,

For some reason clarinet manufacturers mount the thumb rest way too
low. They will then add an adjustable thumb rest that can be set
lower yet!

Why should manufacturer's hurt us ALL with a thumb rest that is
mounted ergonomically wrong. Just think how much easier it would be
for ALL of us if Buffet or some other bright company started putting
them on the clarinet 1/2 higher and making them adjustable from
there. That way if someone, like my 6'4" student wants it low he can
put it there, but the rest of us can put it where WE need it. Why
should it be too low, even lower, or really lower. Why not mount it
HIGH and then we can all adjust it where we need it.

The only thing I can see that sensible suggestion hurting is the
sales for the after market guys!!

We have been dealing with this after market for 35 years. Isn't it
time Buffet led the pack and mounted the thumb rests HIGH and
adjustable instead of low and adjustable?

For decades I have used Bay thumb rests on my, and my students and
customers clarinets.

The important thing is that I REMOUNT them VERY high in back, and
then when I adjust the height in back it isn't low, lower, lowest,
but a reasonable height. The thumb rest needs to be mounted higher
anyway in order to play the side Bb as Jack Brymer says in his book
on clarinet. third line Bb is a very poor note with thumb and first
finger, but a very good note with first finger on A and using the
third side key up on the side key.

By mounting the Bay Thumb Rest up high, you can play that note and
have much better Bb's.

In addition to height being better for playing that note, it takes
the STRESS off of the hand.

WHY SHOULD THE COMPANIES CURSE US ALL WITH THAT STRESS?? MOUNT THEM
HIGHER!!

With the Bay having a maleable plate, you can change the shape and
angle of the plate to your individual thumb. This helps a great deal.
The Bay allows you to adjust height, turn the plate and bend the
plate until it fits you perfectly. I prefer to remove the padding
Charlie puts on it and re-line mine with cork.

Since you are in the DC area, you can go to the techs at Chuck
Levin's Washington Music in Wheaton Maryland to have it installed and
fit to your hand.

The suggestion of not resting the weight on the knuckle, but rather
between the knuckle and the nail is also very good.

Many years ago a friend suggested a book to me. The title is "Pain
Erasure", by Bonnie Prudden. If it is out of print it can be
purchased used on Amazon. This book has been a huge help for me with
injuries, and helped me with the kind of problem you have mentioned.
She was the Physical Therapist that worked with Janet Travell MD,
President Kennedy's doctor.

http://www.myopain.org/JanetTravell.aspx

http://www.bonnieprudden.com/

Kurt

-----Original Message-----
> From: Janice Rosen <operanut@-----.com>
> Sent: Feb 8, 2012 7:28 AM
> To: The Klarinet Mailing List <klarinet@-----.com>
> Subject: Re: [kl] (no subject)
>
> Hi everyone,
>
> thanks for the input. I will have to try the solutions.
>
> When I practice at home, I am sitting and I put the clarinet bell
> between my knees to keep the clarinet still and to hold it up
> firmly so that it doesn't slip. I do that because when I play
> standing up, the clarinet is too heavy for my right thumb and I end
> up tensing all my fingers in order to hold the clarinet in place.
> Definitely not a good thing to do.
>
> If I relax the fingers the way I am supposed to then the clarinet
> slips downward and some notes end up sqeeking because the holes are
> not covered completely.
>
> The only place it hurts while holding the clarinet in playing
> position is the joint of the right hand where the thumb joins the
> hand. I am sure there must be a special name for that particular
> joint.
>
> thanks again for all the advice.
>
> Janice
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: fred jacobowitz <fbjacobo@-----.us>
> To: The Klarinet Mailing List <klarinet@-----.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, February 7, 2012 10:42 PM
> Subject: Re: [kl] (no subject)
>
> Janice,
>
> Can you be more specific? Is the pain in the fleshy part of the hand
> between the thumb and the hand? Or is it in either (or both) thumb
> joints?
>
> If you are getting pain in that fleshy area, that's where tendons
> are, and that could be tendonitis. However, if the pain is only in
> the joints, I have a possible solution: I saw a flute player with a
> kind of strap that went around the thumb between the joints, so she
> had he entire tip of the thumb uncovered. Then it connects to a strap
> around the hand. I tried it and it was great. The strap doesn't get
> in the way of the thumb joint where it is touching the thumb rest.
>
> I asked her where she got it and she told me, and I bought it (and
> now can't remember from where! There is no name on the brace). So
> maybe you can ask flute players if they know about it.
>
> Fred Jacobowitz
>
> CASE CLOSED Musical Instrument Case Repair Service
> Kol Haruach Klezmer Band
> Ebony and Ivory Duo
>
> You don't get harmony when everybody sings the same note.
> ~Doug Floyd
>
> On Feb 6, 2012, at 10:35 PM, Janice Rosen wrote:
>
> Hi everyone,
>
> I need some suggestions on how to strengthen my right thumb and the
> joint so that it doesn't hurt when playing the clarinet. NO I don't
> have arthritis and don't normally have pain in that thumb. That
> thumb isn't strong enough to hold the weight of the clarinet while
> playing and tends to sag, causing the clarinet to move, and then I
> miss the finger holes while playing. I can;t stand the neck straps,
> so I dont use one to help hold the clarinet. Would anyone have any
> suggestions for strengthening that thumb and the joint that connects
> the thumb to the hand?
>
>
> Thanks
>
>
> Janice Rosen
> Washington, DC
>

_______________________________________________
Klarinet mailing list
Klarinet@-----.com
To do darn near anything to your subscription, go to:
http://klarinet-list.serve-music.com

_______________________________________________
Klarinet mailing list
Klarinet@-----.com
To do darn near anything to your subscription, go to:
http://klarinet-list.serve-music.com