 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Amie
Date: 2004-09-19 02:05
Hello, I am a clarinet student and I have been playing for six years now. When I began playing I had a bit of trouble with my hand positioning - my fingers were too small to cover the bottom G/D hole, but eventually I grew and the difficulties ended, or so I thought. Just recently, I've begun having trouble with my fingers in my right hand. I am not sure if I'm double jointed, but I can move the base of my thumb in a way that some people can't and have a good range of motion in my thumb as well as loose joints in general. I have read that it is very difficult for double jointed students to develop proper hand positioning, especially concerning the right thumb. This problem doesn't bother me too much when I'm not playing very fast, but now that the music that I play in school is becoming more demanding, I'm finding that my right hand can't keep up when I jump the break or have to support the clarinet by that hand alone.
I have tried breaking this habit, and strengthening my hand (I am not right handed either, so I thought maybe it was just too weak to support the clarinet's weight) but am becoming very frustrated with my lack of progress. I have seen found pictures of proper hand positioning and find that I physically can't hold the clarinet in a similar way. My palm sort-of collapses into itself and I can't keep the joint at the base of my thumb straight. Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone here had any advice, or would it be best to go to my band teacher and explain my situation? I would greatly appreciate any help, as I would like to become a better clarinet player and I don't believe I can until I solve this problem.
I thank you all very much for your help,
Amie
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2004-09-19 02:25
Hi Amie!
I suspect I have the same difficulty you discuss. Do you have what some of my students call "hitchhiker's thumb"? In other words, can you bend the joint of your thumb (the one farthest from your palm) back all by itself into a "gimme a ride" position? This impacts my clarinet playing in that my thumb CANNOT remain straight when any weight is put on it. Well, it can but it becomes completely rigid and immobile.
Unfortunately I have no help. I still have wretched thumb position, even after playing for 25 years and having 2 clarinet performance degrees. I do know that I am more susceptible to tendonitis in my right forearm due to the impossibility of correct arm rotation, but being aware of the problem, I tend to "baby" the issue.
Also I find that a neckstrap can help you maintain the correct thumb/hand position while supporting the weight of the clarinet.
For what it's worth, attention to the problem and careful practice can help you learn to play faster too! 
All the best,
Katrina
Post Edited (2004-09-19 02:27)
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Author: VermontJM
Date: 2004-09-19 05:53
Because of the ridiculous amount of pain and swelling in my thumb joint, I am looking into getting the Kooiman thumbrest. I wonder if this would work for you, since it would take the pressure off of the end of your thumb and move the weight closer to your hand...
It is expensive, but there is a less expensive model that does virtually the same thing that I have heard people rave about also...
Good luck!
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-09-19 14:04
I routinely invert [raising] the TR's on MY cls, and suggest this to students [watching how they "handle" the right hand] , also suggesting adjustable [higher] TR's to better cover the lowest ring hole AND the R H E/B touch-key . I am very critical of the mfgr's too-low locations for the load-carrying right thumb, I like to approximate a "pinch" positioning. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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