 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: bandmom
Date: 1999-11-19 19:06
HELP please My son palys the clarinet. I is also missing the first joint on his right ring finger. This makes covering the D hold difficult/ or if he manages to cover the hole he can't use his pinkie to operate the levers (sorru I con't know the correct terminology)
We modified his plastic clarinet so the D ring is covered and he only has to hold the cover down. This was accomplished by adding another post and splitting the rod so the D is independant of the others on the rod. My question is how can we accomplish this on a wooden clarinet.
The local music store is trying to come up with a solution that will not require the addition of a post.
The clarinet we would do this to is a used buffet intermediate level (E-11 i think) We don't have unlimited finances (who does) and I am hoping to come up with a solution that doesnt cost as much as the instrument itself. In case it's relevant, my son is a high school junior in his fifth year of playing the clarinet. He loves it. He is aiming for the state solo and ensemble competition this year. We live in the Cleveland, Ohio area.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-11-19 19:41
Bandmom,
That's a hard one! You live near one of the best music schools in the country (well, I'm only a bit biased since my son goes there :^) at Cleveland Inst. of Music. Why not check with the teachers there? They may be able to come up with a solution that no one's thought of yet.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 1999-11-19 20:25
Off hand, I should think that your solution for the plastic clar. would apply to the Buffet wood. A woman in our Community Band is also missing a finger tip and plays Bb, alto cl and sax. On her alto cl [which is a full plateau system, like a sax] a good repairman silver-soldered an extension to the keypad [which is independently actuated because of the plateau construction] and she can reach it easily. I believe her sax is also modified, but dont know concerning her clar. I will inquire and let you know. Keep him playing! Don
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Author: Aaron Hayden
Date: 1999-11-19 20:35
Do you mean the C/G tone hole. That's the right ring finger tone hole. The only way to accomplish what you are asking for is to add 2 posts and make a key that will accommodate a pad and attach a key extension. The extension will have to be fitted, so that your son's right hand would be in the proper position to operate the C#/G# key. Also the tone hole will have to be modified to accept a proper pad seat.
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Author: Joanne
Date: 1999-11-20 02:10
Somewhere on this BB is a post with a link to a repair shop that has modified flutes and clarinets for players with a missing or short finger. It's an interesting website, with pictures of these modified instruments, and several brass instruments at various stages of restoration. I can't recall the name of the shop (which is in Seattle, if I remember correctly). I tried searching the forum, but didn't find the post. Maybe Mark or someone else can help you out there?
Good luck
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Author: Willie
Date: 1999-11-20 02:13
I think after looking at one of my clarinets and visualising playing the D tone port with a finger as you described, you may have to remove that ring and have a pad cup installed that works independantly of the other two rings. It can swivel on the same axis rod but may have to rise up far enough so as to not affect tonality. An extention will have to be made so as to be played with the hand in normal position. I/ve seen this done on the upper two rings for old WW2 Gunnersmates from the Navy & Coast Guard who play. A lot of fingers fell prey to AA guns and depth charge racks during the war. However those who were musicians and loved making music enough didn't let this set them back. They improvised. Necessity is the mother of! My hats off to your son and it may take some phone calls and driving around but you should be able to find a repairman in your area with the inventiveness and willingness to take on the the challenge.
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Author: bigcage
Date: 1999-11-20 10:48
Bandmom: I hate to make commercials, but try Educator's Music in Lakewood. Try to talk to John Stavish, a fantastic clarinetist and does know adaptation means and manners. An adaptation can be made to accomadate your sons problem. I dealt with this store when I was teaching and will speak to its integrity. Keep your son playing, its something he will be able to do for full life.
Jim Mougey
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Author: Kimberly Nisius
Date: 1999-11-25 03:57
I answered your question over on the selmer line, but I have been thinking about it. Don mentioned the plateau clarinet style. I checked our plateau instrument here at the school and sure enough the instrument only has the usual posts at the end of the rod for the right hand keys.
The alteration you are wanting done, I would think could be done without even adding the post. If the repair shop could get the G/D key for a plateau clarinet, and then cut the existing set of rings to the right length the rod should go through both pieces and fit back together as it originally was without the extra post. The only problem I can see, and don't know how to fix (a repair tech might be able to come up with a solution or know how to make it work) is the two keys need to slide the same as on the plateau system. They cannot move together. The normal ring keys need to move separately from the third hole plateau. The post I would guess that was added was one way to solve this problem.
Since Educators was mentioned here I have seen some of their work, and also say it has been good. But I would also remind you of my suggestion of Driscols music in Lorain. I would be curious as to the solution that is chosen wherever you send the instrument. Keep us informed!
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