 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: davetrow
Date: 2010-08-31 04:24
I had my R-13 fitted with a Kooiman Maestro a few days ago and am still working on getting it adjusted just right. It has made a tremendous difference in comfort (the RSI in the my thumb has just about vanished), and has also sped up my fingering considerably.
But I'm having one difficulty that I hope others experienced with this device can help address, and that is the tendency of the clarinet to roll to the left when playing any note that involves only one or no left-hand fingers (e.g., altissimo C or the throat G, G#, or A). Part of it is perhaps still having a weak embouchure (I play double lip), but I'm wondering if the following text from the Kooiman website offers a clue:
"When you pull the muscle at the inside of the thumb, the thumb will bend a little. This is quite essential and will ensure that you make good contact with the padded thumb rest on top of your thumb."
I have adjusted the padded thumb rest to sit not on the proximal phalange (between the top knuckle and the next one down) as recommended, but on the metacarpal phalangeal joint (the second knuckle), as recommended by my tech, who not only uses one himself, but has installed a number of them. My physical therapist verified that this position is more appropriate for my hand than the standard (I had her check things out while I was actually holding the clarinet in playing position).
I've been experimenting with bending the top joint of the thumb slightly to compensate (as the text quoted above seems to recommend), but can't seem to get the correct relationship between the "thumb casing" (the black part that slides from side to side on which the pad of the thumb rests) and the padded part that rests on the knuckle.
Any suggestions?
Dave Trowbridge
Boulder Creek, CA
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: PeterPC
Date: 2010-08-31 06:18
Hello Dave,
I'm sure its the best way to contact Ton Kooiman himself and I'm convinced he will help you out. Check his website:
http://www.tonkooiman.com/index.php/nl/support
Peter
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2010-08-31 10:11
Geez, I hadn't used mine in years but getting your thumb tip to rest on the "other half of the support point" is key. However you adjust the "Robo Cop" part, just make sure your thumb rests on the back of the horn as it would normally. There shouldn't be ANY stability issues with this thumb rest.
..............Paul Aviles
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: dansil
Date: 2010-08-31 10:16
Hi Dave
It's hard to be certain what you mean when you say the clarinet rolls to the left with the way you have your Maestro set up at the moment. But if I've got interpreted it correctly it may be useful to try sliding the black thumb support further to the left or away from the tip of your thumb. The further you "stretch" out the arms of the Maestro thumb rest the greater the tendency of the clarinet to tilt to the left. That's simple mechanics. So if you try to support the clarinet on your metacarpo-phalangeal joint at the very base of the thumb the clarinet will have a much greater tendency to lean to the left. The closer you bring the rest towards the clarinet so that it rests on the proximal phalanx the less tendency there will be for the clarinet to lean to the left. Of course that puts a greater stress on the thumb. But it still won't be quite as bad a stress as a conventional thumbrest puts on our long-suffering thumbs!
Like you I've had quite a struggle getting a totally comfortable position with my Maestro AND a feeling that it supports the clarinet securely during playing in all positions and with all interval jumps. I must admit that I actually find the Kooiman Etude 2 thumb rest, which I have installed on another clarinet, much more comfortable AND secure. The Maestro is either uncomfortable but feels secure or comfortable but feels insecure! I've spent many hours adjusting and re-adjusting the device and have yet to find the perfect position and it's been very frustrating to say the least.
I bought the Maestro, which is several times more expensive than the Etude, partly out of curiosity and partly because of my concern with the relatively insecure mounting plate of the Etude. The screw heads with the plastic Etude mounting plate constantly work their way loose no matter how well I tighten them but have never done so with the metal mounting plate of the Maestro. Unfortunately the two mounting plates are completely incompatible with the different thumb rest bodies. The ideal for me would be an Etude body and a Maestro mounting plate!
I should send this feedback to Ton but it's unlikely that he'll modify the Etude to be compatible with the Maestro base plate! Tooling for moulded items is hideously expensive especially for such a niche object with a small market.
Good luck in your trials
Danny Silver (dansil@vic.chariot.net.au) in Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: davetrow
Date: 2010-09-01 00:26
Thanks for all the feedback. I'll try contacting Ton and see what he says. I used it for the first time today in practice with the pianist I work with and got some more insight into how I might adjust it. I think it will just take time.
One thing it has already done is make me feel secure enough holding the clarinet to start playing standing up. What a difference that makes in my sound!
Dave Trowbridge
Boulder Creek, CA
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: skygardener
Date: 2010-09-01 08:54
I have been using the Kooiman for many years.
It takes time to find the adjustment that is best for you. If you find that your clarinet rolls to the left, then the arm is probably too low. in relation to the casing. Adjust the arm up a little and then (if needed) adjust the entire thumbrest down a little with the screw that is on the mounting plate.
If you post some pictures of your hand or email me, I can be more specific as to what you might be doing and/or what can help.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: davetrow
Date: 2010-09-01 15:12
Skygardener: that makes sense. I was trying to put the casing as high as possible to put my thumb as close to opposition to the index finger as possible (the natural relaxed position of the hand), since the lower position with the standard thumb rest (opposition to the middle finger) was part of what was causing the pain. But it didn't occur to me that the different support offered by the Kooiman obviates the necessity for exact opposition.
I will give your suggestion a try, and if it doesn't seem to help, I'll see if I can manage some photos. I appreciate the offer.
Dave Trowbridge
Boulder Creek, CA
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: stuper1
Date: 2010-09-02 01:19
Danny,
Does your Etude mounting plate have three pairs of holes so you can adjust it up or down? Once you find the right setting for you, you can use four or six screws instead of just two, and that should make it pretty secure.
I use the Etude along with a FHRED, and it's helped my right-hand pain immensely.
Stuart
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: dansil
Date: 2010-09-02 06:42
Hi Stuart
I think you actually meant to ask whether the Maestro mounting plate has 3 pairs of holes to adjust it up and down. Actually it has one pair of holes the standard distance apart to align with the holes drilled for a standard thumbrest PLUS one hole 1-2 cm lower down to act as an anchor so as to stop any untoward rotation which might progressively contribute to loosening of the upper two screws. Clearly this involves drilling a third hole in one's treasured clarinet which I'm very reluctant to do. So at the moment my Maestro is secured only by two screws!
Up and down adjustment of the Maestro is achieved by adjusting two screws - one on the mounting plate and a second one on the body of the thumbrest itself. Further adjustments are to the pivoted arm of the thumbrest with it's infinite variability.
While I'm not 100% comfortable with the Maestro, I still have significant relief of the pain I had using a standard thumb rest even with Tom Ridenour's thumb saddle.
Cheers, Danny Silver
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: stuper1
Date: 2010-09-02 19:47
Danny,
No, I was referring to the Etude mounting plate. You said that you like the Etude body better than the Maestro, but you don't like the Etude mounting plate because you can't get it secure enough. I'm thinking that if you use four or six screws to secure the Etude mounting plate, you could get it much more secure. Just an idea -- maybe I'm wrong, and/or maybe you'd rather not drill more holes.
Best,
Stuart
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: dansil
Date: 2010-09-03 00:16
Hi Stuart
yes I'm very averse to drilling extra holes into my clarinets! Just wishing for a perfect universe.
Cheers, Danny Silver
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
