 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Amy
Date: 1999-02-18 01:59
At the TMEA convention I was able to play around the BG elastic nextstrap and I was told that though some clarinet players consider neckstraps unecessary, they can help take a lot of the pressure off of the right hand thumb allow your fingers to be more mobile and free for technique. I am just wondering what the pros and cons of using a neckstrap are and if it would be worth my while to try using one for a while.
TIA
Amy
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Author: Dee
Date: 1999-02-18 02:23
Yes neckstraps definitely help. I probably use mine about 80% of the time. The only drawback is that it can be inconvenient at times. During rests in the music you end up having to lean the clarinet against your shoulder instead of across your lap. In most band music, the rests simply aren't very long so it doesn't work out to unhook it and then hook it back up. However this is pretty minor and you get used to it.
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Author: Dee
Date: 1999-02-18 02:33
If you watch the broadcasts of the Metropolitan Opera, you will notice that Ricardo Morales, the principal clarinet uses a neckstrap.
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Author: Kevin Bowman
Date: 1999-02-18 03:01
Dee wrote:
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If you watch the broadcasts of the Metropolitan Opera, you will notice that Ricardo Morales, the principal clarinet uses a neckstrap.
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Really? Wow, I never knew that!
I've never used a neckstrap myself (I've even been know to play short passages on sax without a strap when doubling). But I do have a couple of students who use a strap on my recommendation. One of my students' hands are quite small (just barely big enough to cover the lower joing holes) and the strap helps her concentrate on correct finger position rather than having to worry about the constant upward pressure of the right thumb. The other student has a very weak R. thumb that "collapses" without the use of the strap. For her, the strap helps her concentrate on the proper hand position.
I've considered using a strap myself during long practice sessions to avoid the tendency to put the bell on my knee. If I could just quit procrastinating ...
Kevin Bowman
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-02-18 03:14
Also, Robert Spring of Arizona State (pres. of the ICA and of Dragon's Tongue fame) uses a strap. At the last 2 ClarinetFests I'd guess that 15% of the teachers and pros were using neckstraps, and I think the percentage will grow.
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Author: Merry
Date: 1999-02-18 03:41
If I want to play for longer than 15 minutes without suffering pain I have to use a neckstrap. They don't take away all of the pressure on the right thumb but they certainly help.
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Author: JennyA
Date: 1999-02-18 09:58
I've been using a neckstrap for over a year now because I was having a lot of trouble with my right hand. It has made a tremendous difference. I even had a ring soldered onto my thumbrest and a hook added to the neckstrap to make it easier to hook on. I have almost always put my clarinet upright on my knee during long rests, so that aspect of the strap doesn't bother me.
Now my big problem is getting my sax hooked onto the sax neckstrap when I'm switching back and forth! I hooked on to the clarinet strap by mistake last week and was in for a little surprise!
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Author: Dee
Date: 1999-02-18 12:13
Mark Charette wrote:
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Also, Robert Spring of Arizona State (pres. of the ICA and of Dragon's Tongue fame) uses a strap. At the last 2 ClarinetFests I'd guess that 15% of the teachers and pros were using neckstraps, and I think the percentage will grow.
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I have a book by Robert Lowery that suggests that all students should use a neck strap right from the beginning for better balance and support of the instrument.
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Author: Kevin Bowman
Date: 1999-02-18 15:22
Dee wrote:
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I have a book by Robert Lowery that suggests that all students should use a neck strap right from the beginning for better balance and support of the instrument.
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Dee -
That's a great idea, and I don't know why I didn't think of that long ago. It would save me having to emphasize so much to beginners that "the right thumb must constantly press upward". And a strap in inexpensive enough that I can demand all beginners to get one (right along with their first method book) as a prerequisite.
Thanks
Kevin Bowman
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Author: mommaq
Date: 1999-02-18 21:28
But how does one explain this to the band director when he/she tells the student with very small hands (my daughter) to stop using the neck strap because it doesn't look good? This is our little problem. My daughter's hand really starts to cramp up and bother her when there are long practices, but the BD insists that the neck strap is not to be used. She looks like a beginner with the strap. Period. Should we be name droppers?
Thanks.......Mommaq
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 1999-02-18 22:20
mommaq wrote:
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But how does one explain this to the band director when he/she tells the student with very small hands (my daughter) to stop using the neck strap because it doesn't look good? This is our little problem. My daughter's hand really starts to cramp up and bother her when there are long practices, but the BD insists that the neck strap is not to be used. She looks like a beginner with the strap. Period. Should we be name droppers?
Thanks.......Mommaq
Mommaq -
An angry confrontation with the band director won't help. He (much more likely than she) has made a snap decision and will only dig in deeper if you challenge his authority directly.
First, show him indirectly that he's made a mistake. Say something like "I notice the saxophone players use neckstraps, but they don't look like beginners."
Then work on sympathy: "My daughter came to me in tears. Her hands are so small, and she says it hurts her so much to play without the neckstrap. She really loves the band, and feels so disappointed when she can't do what you ask for."
Finally, go to authority: "When my daughter and I watched the Metropolitan Opera, I saw the first clarinet player with a neck strap, and he's got to be one of the best players I've ever heard. She was so excited."
"Please -- my daughter would die if she had to drop out of the band, and when the neck strap helps her so much, I really think she shouldn't have to play in pain. Blame me if you like, but don't take it out on her."
If you can add a few tears, there's no band director in the world who would say no.
He's a sitting duck. Go get him, and get what's right for your daughter.
Happy hunting. Let us know how it comes out.
Ken Shaw
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Author: paul
Date: 1999-02-18 22:49
Interesting postings here folks.
A bit of personal perspective. I obviously used a neck strap for bass clarinet when I played it in band, both indoors and outside. No one said a word about it. Yet, I never saw a neckstrap for a soprano clarinet in actual use. No one even considered it. I have recently seen a couple of the intermediate and student grade horns with the ring for a neckstrap near the RH thumbrest.
My right hand does get rather stiff and sore during practice sessions with my pro grade soprano clarinet. Perhaps getting the neckstrap ring installed wouldn't be such a bad idea. I just hope that adding the ring won't destroy the look and feel of my expensive horn, affect the tone, or start any cracks in the wood.
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Author: Daniel
Date: 1999-02-18 22:58
Putting the bell between the knees is perfectly acceptable. As long as you're not wearing baggy clothes that obstuct the bell on the low E, F and clarion B,and C.
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Author: Daniel
Date: 1999-02-18 23:07
No need to have a totally different thumbrest installed ot put on a ring for a neck strap... the BG neck strap comes with a post attached to a ring similar idea to a marching lyre. It just slips over the middle tenonand has three places along the post to hook the strap to.
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Author: Stephanie aka Benny
Date: 1999-02-19 01:48
i agree with dee, they do help a lot at least for me, but they also get in the way too. I found them to be an asset good luck i think that you will like it
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Author: lis
Date: 1999-02-19 02:50
~~~I just hope that adding the ring won't destroy the look and feel of my expensive horn, affect the tone, or start any cracks in the wood.
I thought the same thing about clarinet neck straps, but last week I had to get one due to my tendionitus(sp?). I ordered the Claricord from the Woodwind Catalog.... it is wonderful. It's got a leather section that sides around the thumbrest so there is no damage done to the clarinet. There are no hooks and no need for a lyre type section. There is also a slit for both the Bb and the A clarinets!
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Author: Dee
Date: 1999-02-19 03:27
Kevin Bowman wrote:
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Dee -
That's a great idea, and I don't know why I didn't think of that long ago. It would save me having to emphasize so much to beginners that "the right thumb must constantly press upward". And a strap in inexpensive enough that I can demand all beginners to get one (right along with their first method book) as a prerequisite.
Thanks
Kevin Bowman
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Just be sure you help them get the straps as your local music stores generally don't carry them. Mostly it is strictly a mail order item.
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Author: Kevin Bowman
Date: 1999-02-19 03:33
Daniel wrote:
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Putting the bell between the knees is perfectly acceptable. As long as you're not wearing baggy clothes that obstuct the bell on the low E, F and clarion B,and C.
Daniel, I hate to disagree -- but I do. Putting the bell between the knees has a noticable effect on more than just the bell tones. But that's not my main objection. Mainly, placing the bell between the knees is not natural. One must squeeze the knees together to hold the bell and this creates tension and has an effect on breathing.
Admittedly, I often catch myself *resting* the bell of my clarinet on my right knee and even that can cause small problems with intonation, finger technique, and other things. I'm trying to break this habit. In fact, sometimes I practice in a standing position so I *can't* fall into this habit.
Kevin Bowman
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Author: Dee
Date: 1999-02-19 03:35
There are two styles of neckstraps commercially. One has a leather tab with a slot that fits over the thumbrest. I have this and it works fine. Another comes with a ring that goes around the middle joint (just like the mount for a marching lyre). This second type then has a post that extends downward and the strap connects to that.
You don't have to modifiy your clarinet for either one.
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Author: Dee
Date: 1999-02-19 03:41
mommaq wrote:
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But how does one explain this to the band director when he/she tells the student with very small hands (my daughter) to stop using the neck strap because it doesn't look good? This is our little problem. My daughter's hand really starts to cramp up and bother her when there are long practices, but the BD insists that the neck strap is not to be used. She looks like a beginner with the strap. Period. Should we be name droppers?
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Yes. Collect up a list of PRO players if you can that use them. There are also oboe players who use them and the oboe is even lighter.
Plus there are teachers on this board and on the klarinet list that support neck straps.
Anyone who thinks that a neckstrap is unprofessional is either uninformed, silly, being macho, or putting some personal esthetic standard above good playing.
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Author: Daniel
Date: 1999-02-19 15:25
lis wrote:
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I thought the same thing about clarinet neck straps, but last week I had to get one due to my tendionitus(sp?). I ordered the Claricord from the Woodwind Catalog.... it is wonderful. It's got a leather section that sides around the thumbrest so there is no damage done to the clarinet. There are no hooks and no need for a lyre type section. There is also a slit for both the Bb and the A clarinets!
Unfortunately, the Claricord is designed for clarinets with the traditional thumbrest. It doesn't work for clarinets with adjustable thumbrests.
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Author: Katherine Pincock
Date: 1999-02-20 13:50
Boy, did you get a lot of responses for this! Well, I just thought I'd add my two cents. I recently started using a neckstrap during long practises and rehearsals, due to an undiagnosed problem with my hands (not tendonitis, thank heavens!) It was quite helpful for that. However, I now find it difficult to play without it for longer than about half an hour to 45 minutes. If I were you, I'd try to avoid using one unless you do have a physical problem that requires it. Speaking from the university world, where they try to prepare us for performance, using a neckstrap in performance is considered a little unformal, except in cases where it's needed.
My other comment, just from personal experience, is that I've found that freeing up the fingers has less to do with taking weight off the thumb and more to do with relaxing the hand and fingers. I'm bad about tensing my hand, and that hasn't gotten any better since I started using a strap. So you might want to think about that when you decide whether or not to try one.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-02-20 16:32
Katherine Pincock wrote:
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However, I now find it difficult to play without it for longer than about half an hour to 45 minutes.
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So?????
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If I were you, I'd try to avoid using one unless you do have a physical problem that requires it. Speaking from the university world, where they try to prepare us for performance, using a neckstrap in performance is considered a little unformal, except in cases where it's needed.
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Just got back from the New England Conservatory (Tom Martin of the BSO is teacher there). I don't know if Tom uses a neckstrap, but 4 clarinetists I saw there, including one ready for her senior recital, were using neckstraps.
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Author: Dee
Date: 1999-02-20 18:08
Katherine Pincock wrote:
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... I recently started using a neckstrap during long practises and rehearsals, due to an undiagnosed problem with my hands (not tendonitis, thank heavens!) It was quite helpful for that. However, I now find it difficult to play without it for longer than about half an hour to 45 minutes.
My comment:
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I think that this indicates that you needed it and still do need it.
Katherine Pincock wrote:
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If I were you, I'd try to avoid using one unless you do have a physical problem that requires it. Speaking from the university world, where they try to prepare us for performance, using a neckstrap in performance is considered a little unformal, except in cases where it's needed.
My comment:
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Unless you have FORMALLY surveyed other universities, schools and their instructors, that only applies to your university and your instructors. If they consider it informal that is an unjustified bias on their part.
Katherine Pincock wrote:
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My other comment, just from personal experience, is that I've found that freeing up the fingers has less to do with taking weight off the thumb and more to do with relaxing the hand and fingers. I'm bad about tensing my hand, and that hasn't gotten any better since I started using a strap. So you might want to think about that when you decide whether or not to try one.
My comment:
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Although you may still tense up, many players do find that it helps them relax and reduce hand tension. This is very individual and what is true for you may not be true for others.
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Author: jim lande (lande @ erols.com)
Date: 1999-02-22 02:04
Katherine Pincock wrote:
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My other comment, just from personal experience, is that I've found that freeing up the fingers has less to do with taking weight off the thumb and more to do with relaxing the hand and fingers. I'm bad about tensing my hand, and that hasn't gotten any better since I started using a strap.
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If this is the case, why do i only tense up / fail to relax when I play my Silver King, but not any other clarinet. Thanks to all of the other posts, now I know what to do. Oh, and do you suppose you director would let you use a silver clarinet for performance?
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