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Re: Instrument supports

Author: Tony Pay ★2017
Date: 2006-08-17 06:27

Hank Lehrer wrote:

>> It would seem that the total downward force on the thumb can be resolved into vertical and horizontal components.>>

I find it helpful to think rather of resolving PARALLEL TO and PERPENDICULAR TO the clarinet body. Then, the weight of the clarinet has two components, parallel to and perpendicular to the clarinet body: the presence of the sling means that you can reduce the one parallel to the clarinet body to zero, leaving a RH thumb push perpendicular to the clarinet to maintain equilibrium. Such a push is no strain for the thumb.

I once got into trouble practising a demanding piece (Henze's 'Miracle of the Rose') and found that a loop of knicker elastic round my neck and wrapped round the thumbrest helped me over the several intensive hours I needed to put in. You can choose the length so as to minimise any force at the embouchure when the instrument is in optimum playing position, and the elasticity of the support allows for minimal movement around that position.

The only slightly tricky bit is that the LH thumb can wind up rather close to the elastic.

Don't pull the instrument a long way down and then let go:-)

Tony

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Instrument supports new

Cosmicjello

2006-08-14 13:00