 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Dragonpuppy
Date: 2004-06-21 00:44
Hi! I'm 15 years old and just finished grade 9 in school. I have been playing violin my whole life but I like the clarinet a lot more! I want to be a band teacher (i'm really serious!) and I don't think people want a violinist teaching band... so about 2 months ago I started taking clarinet lessons. I progressed quickly but I practiced carefully so I wouldn't get tendonitis. I practiced in 20min blocks so my right thumb and my mouth (i have braces) could recover. My clarinet is Bundy, very cheap, and heavy. I had practices with my pianst... lessons... and practice with an ensemble because there was a recital. I could not stop every 20min and interupt everyone! So I got tendonitis. The doctor said it would get better "very soon" and gave me 4 pills. Its been more than 4 days and i REALLY want to use my right hand! I miss practicing! My parents to buy me a new clarinet, a buffet E11... but I don't know when to start practicing and how. I'm scared I'll hurt my hand if i use it... My mother says that the tendonitis is a sign that I shouldn't be a musician... is it true and do i have a chance?
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-06-21 01:55
Do we understand correctly that it is your right hand with problems? Often the thumb rests are located too low and put strains on thumb and some fingers. To determine if this might be happening, try playing [briefly] with your right thumb ON TOP of the T R. If this helps, see a repairer tech for 1. inverting the T R, 2. relocating the T R, 3. installing an adjustable T R. There may be other causes, so ask for your teacher's help, in any case. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Bnatural
Date: 2004-06-21 02:01
That certainly isn't a sign that you shouldn't be a musician... do a search and you'll find articles about many successful musicians who have had these problems i'm sure someone that will chime in after me will have had a problem. I'm going to be a junior in high school and i've had problems with my wrist for the past year. Don't push it take whatever time you need to feel back to normal. I would seriously look at your technique though alot of times that i've seen this happen it is due to some kind of mistake the player is making without realizing it. Maybe have a more experienced player watch you, or ask your teacher (who i'm assuming is a clarinet player) to show you some stretching exercises that could help you or things to change.
Once you have your E11 you could begin to use a neckstrap with the ringlet on it (it helped me a great deal) and most importantly take it seriously your body is trying to tell you something your doing is bad (what kind of doctor said it was tendonitis?). Rather not play for a few weeks then never play again.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2004-06-21 12:59
Your presumption about violinist band conductors is not justified since I know one who was very successful.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2004-06-21 13:23
I have two suggestions:
1. Use a neck strap
2. Check your hand position. Many people have the right hand too far under the clarinet. This puts a constant bend in the wrist and sooner or later can lead to tendonitis anywhere in that arm. The thumb rest should straddle the base of the thumb nail. The wrist should be relatively straight.
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Author: Ben
Date: 2004-06-21 13:38
Ever heard of Yo-Yo Ma?
He has tendonitis in both arms and is still plenty sucsessful!
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Author: pfhnyc
Date: 2004-06-21 13:57
Hi,
I wouldn't call myself an expert but I have a chronic problem in this same area. - (Not to worry, mine was far more severe.)
It is in no way related to being one thing or another.
You can just as easily get tendonitis by using a computer. - I know, because I did. - So, would that mean you can never use a computer again.
(Note: Most people associate computers with 'carpal tunnel' but that's because they don't really know anything about it.)
There are numerous ways to get tendonitis. Sit down and write in long hand for an hour or so. Do that repeatedly during the day and a few days later see how you feel. Not good.
What I'm saying is that you are straining muscles in a way they are not use to or happy with.
To Address it: Resting the muscles is a first step. Hold the instrument properly and get support is another step. But also take it slow. Let your body adjust to what your are doing. Warm up the muscles before pratice. Stretch and relax the muscles on a regular basis. And see if the doctor can reccomend exercises to makes the muscles stronger. It can also help heal the muscles.
There is a book out there on praticing ('the art of practicing' or something). I use to have it. It is geared more towards piano but really addresses the very issue you have.
Good luck to you.
Paul
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2004-06-21 21:25
Oh to be 15 again and only need four pills to get well!
Wrist strain from overuse is preventable.
Follow the advice given and rest - that's the ticket for quick recovery.
If you begin to play again, prior to recovery - it will take considerably longer to heal properly. Most of us go through this, and it's not a sign of poor playing, lack of talent or the impending apocalypse - it's an athletic injury.
I suspect your Mother's reluctance is based on switching to an instrument with little future in a broad arena. The violin has a well developed repetoire, and is almost always on stage in a concert.
How many clarinets do you see in orchestras?
******
Short term fixes for wrist position problems;
Have the thumbrest moved up higher (20mm or so).
Get the claricord strap (it's cheap)
Wrest the bell on your knee while playing to carry some weight.
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