 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Vicky
Date: 2003-01-29 03:48
Hi everyone!
I have a problem. It seems as though while I play the clarinet, I get really tense. My back, arms, fingers, and almost any joint hurts. My hand placement is very strange. It actually looks as if my right hand is deformed! Does anyone have an any kind of advice? I just tried playing with less pressure, but my tone started to suffer. It was not as full as it was before, even though I was still using the same amount of air support! Can someone please help me! I am in pain! :S
Thanks,
Vicky
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Author: Ken Rasmussen
Date: 2003-01-29 06:25
You might consider where you would put your right thumb in the absence of a thumb rest. Usually thumbrests are positioned far lower on the horn than I, and many other players would prefer. I'm using a Kooiman thumb rest, and I have adjusted it nearly an inch higher than is usual. You can also relieve strain by resting the horn on your knee while you play. It is also good to practice playing with no more stress in the fingers, hands, and arms than is necessary. Sometimes it is good to let the tone go to hell in order to concentrate on forming stress free habits. You can put the tone back together later.
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Author: bob49t
Date: 2003-01-29 06:54
Ditto Ken's suggestion - position of the thumbrest is different for every clarinet manufacturer. The anatomy of every player will not necessarily fit in with the original t/r position. eg very short or long fingers. I too playing with Kooiman t/r's (the fully adjustable version) in order to relieve repetitive strain injury (RSI) and to lighten the clarinet.Highly recommended.
The extra force you're having to apply to support the instrument tranmits extra force to shoulder, neck, eventually back etc. in order to balance trhe system.
If you have extra long slender fingers this can lead to problems.
If your clarinet is a particularly heavy one (like mine) ditto. (there are some incredibly light ones on the market.
Suggest getting your overall playing position checked, follow Ken's suggetion for support, try an adjustable t/r or reposition your t/r.
However it might be worth getting your neck area checked for muscle injury, disc problems. You never know the solution may be very simple.
Just had a thought for a new thread - weight difference between clarinets (very important when starting out at when very young.
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Author: Mark Sloss
Date: 2003-01-29 15:11
Anthony Gigliotti demonstrated the ergonomic problem presented by the thumbrest to me some time back (if memory serves, one of his sons is an Orthopod). Our god-given opposable thumbs, while flexible, are at rest opposing the index finger, which is higher than the standard mounting position on the clarinet. At his guidance, I remounted the thumbrests and aleviated some of the hand-pain. However, caveat tweaker -- changing the position of the thumbrest changes the balance of the horn, which impacts on your technique.
Beyond that, relax! Get a comfortable chair. Your sound, technique, and physical well being are compromised otherwise. It may take some time to adjust and build up the proper stabilizer muscles, but you aren't doing your self any favors by being completely wound up like a spring.
Now I'm going to go play my magnesium clarinet...
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Author: Bob
Date: 2003-01-29 15:27
......and don't be afraid to rest the bell on your knee!!
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Author: ron b
Date: 2003-01-29 17:20
When you're tense and contorted, nothing's fun. Continuing to play this way will soon kill your desire to play the horn, the object of your discomfort :|
Anything that will assist you to relax and enjoy playing is a big positive and all the suggestions so far are good.
Some folks find they have good results using a neck strap I've never tried one myself for clarinet but it makes sense. Anything that will make playing easier will make it more fun and is worth a try. Perhaps a clarinet playing friend or local music store might have one you can try before you buy.
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Author: Heidi
Date: 2003-01-29 18:19
Hi!!
I second Ron's neck strap idea. I have been using one for 3 years now and it has really helped me out. It may give your had the room it needs to get back into a "normal" position. It takes alot of the weight off and is generally easier to play. I play with a BG neckstrap and it's really great. It hooks onto the thumbrest with a leather pad and it has an elastic cord that allows enough movement and just enough support so it's flexible. It's absolutely wonderful! And my wrist and hand pain is much improved that it was before I got it.
Good luck!
Heidi
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Author: Todd W.
Date: 2003-01-29 20:52
Vicky --
A couple of areas I have to watch out for or I, too, find my back, shoulder, and neck muscles tensing up:
1) Trying to play too fast when I'm reading some music, whether it be an exercise, an etude, or some band music. The mental strain of trying to keep the fingers going without making a mistake usually means I'm often slamming the fingers down at the last minute, and am tensing up everywhere. What happens if you just "noodle" around on the clarinet, or play some slow, easy exercises or familiar pieces? Do you still tense up?
2) The position of my music stand. Don't know if you're at the bifocal age, but I am and often find myself tilting my head backwards to be able to read the top portion of the music, since I can't get my stand low enough when I'm sitting. (I'm planning on getting some reading-distance single-vision glasses for use while playing music. The conductor will look a little fuzzy, but he'll look better that way.)
Hope this helps. And one other thought: a clarinet with adjustment problems can also require extra finger pressure to make some notes speak. That would definitely cause muscle tension.
Todd W.
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Author: tetiana
Date: 2003-01-30 19:50
Hi Vicky
Last fall I started to have a lot of wrist pain. I posted here and got wonderful advice, the best of which, in the long run, was to get a neck strap. I also inverted the thumb rest (upside down) and that helped too although it took a couple of weeks for my fingers to get used to the new geography. I'm not sure if that's your problem though. I second all the people who suggest you investigate whether there are medical reasons afoot. Having ruled that out, here are some ideas. I find that when I play, I need to cover the holes with my fingers fairly firmly otherwise the sound is wishy, unclear and (awk!) even squeaks. If you concentrate, you will notice creating sound on your clarinet will cause the tips of your fingers to vibrate (at least mine do) but if you press too hard, you don't get the tickle any more. Press hard, then back off just until you can feel the tickle. I find that's optimum pressure for me. Try it. How's the tone? Are you getting a little buzz?How're your joints? (Giggling is allowed and might release neck strain.)
Don't play if it hurts and stop playing when the pain sets in. Rest. I know it's hard to follow advice about taking a break, especially if you're compulsive (like me), but I took a one week break last fall, took to heart all the good advice I got on this board and, contrary to my fears and expectations, did not forget which side of the clarinet went into the mouth...
Good luck!
tetiana
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