 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2010-12-17 04:29
I've read that before. I don't buy the "surgically removed" part. I suspect he probably just filed his callouses down with a nail file or emery board. From looking at photos it does appear that Benny used the flat of his fingertips to seal the toneholes in his earlier days (not surprising given the size of the toneholes on those big-bore Selmer's) and switched to using more of the end of his finger tips later in his career. It's possible that this change may have been suggested by Kell or it could just be a reaction to the smaller toneholes on more modern instruments.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Reedirect
Date: 2010-12-17 08:14
I agree with Steve. I heavily doubt that any professional musician would dare to undergo a surgical, full thickness removal of any part of vital skin of the fingertips just because of a callus. Crucial sensory areas will be destroyed forever and excessive consecutive scarring can develop jeopardizing the entire effort (being a surgeon myself I would never recommend such an approach).
Long-term removal of a callus is difficult, as it tends to regrow. Softening it with salicylic acid and filing it down or alternatvely planing it may help, but only temporarily.
The situation is entirely different in the presence of a ganglion (a synocvial cyst generating form the thendon sheath) hindering the mobility of the fingers, which is quite common among professional musicians, who have overstressed their tendons by too much excercise for years. These can and need to be removed surgically with good success. Perhaps, the journalist has misinterpreted or confused the matter in the first place.
Best
Jo
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
