Klarinet Archive - Posting 000111.txt from 2012/02

From: Arthur Acheson <arthur.acheson@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] (no subject)
Date: Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:25:32 -0500

Given the tenon problem, why not mount a re-shaped thumb rest upside down, i.e. with screws below the plate?
Arthur Acheson
On 9 Feb 2012, at 22:48, kurtheisig@-----.net wrote:

> Hi Fred,
>
> I've been mounting the Bays on clarinets since he first came out with them in the '70's. I'm even the guy that suggested he put in a third screw. On customers clarinets I go up only a 1/2 inch, but on mine I do mount on the tenon with a shortened screw in the third hole. Don't try that at home! Leave that to us repairmen.
>
> Kurt
>
> -----Original Message-----
>> From: fred jacobowitz <fbjacobo@-----.us>
>> Sent: Feb 9, 2012 1:42 PM
>> To: The Klarinet Mailing List <klarinet@-----.com>
>> Subject: Re: [kl] (no subject)
>>
>> 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
>>>
>>
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