 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: rollercoastermike
Date: 2007-12-24 00:54
One of my major problems while playing is my arm tension. I can't seem to relax when I play anything. Not only is it bad for speed and finger movement, but in the long run I bet it could give me some serious tendonitis or carpal tunnel.
Does anyone have tips on how to relieve this and to relax? Any exercises?
Just an extra note, RH pinky B always makes my muscles tense up, probably because it's relatively out of reach than other notes.
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Author: kilo
Date: 2007-12-24 10:00
Check out the FHRED:
http://www.quodlibet.com/FhredGen.htm
"...a neck strap does not support the instrument by carrying the weight down along the body, limiting the force on the neck and shoulders to the weight of the instrument. In order for the neck strap to work, the player must push up and out on the instrument to create tension on the strap. This produces a force on the neck which is equal to several times the weight of the instrument. The hands and forearms must supply this force, which changes the force on the thumb from one pushing the thumb downward to one pushing the thumb backward also causing tension in the forearms, aggravating the problems instead of alleviating them."
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2007-12-24 11:19
I think it's important to lean back a bit and analyse why you're tense.
If it is because you're nervous, slow down a notch and choose less demanding pieces until you're one with the notes and the instrument. Some mental exercises help, too. Sometimes, a certain piece of music (or some riffs therein) just isn't made for you and you get all tense at the mere thought of that phrase in bar #237.
If it's the RH B, you might - for the time being - want to forget that this key is there at all and use the LH B. My RH pinky has similar difficulties, so I relegated that key to the "occasional use" league.
A simple contraption along the lines of my 5 minutes 5 cents thumbrest might improve the "gripping" experience. Also experiment with thumbrest placing.
Experiment with "how little pressure is actually needed?". If you find out that some keys (especially the pinky keys) require more force, have a different person play your instrument and get a second opinion. Maybe some key could use some fine tuning.
Good luck, and happy holidays.
--
Ben
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Author: Avie
Date: 2007-12-24 12:43
A thumb rest cushion will help in one respect but will locate the hand slightly lower. It may be worth a try to experiment with moving the thumb rest up by either rotating it 180 degrees or by drilling the thumb rest holes higher will make the E/B key more accessable for the RH pinky.
An adjustable thumb rest mounted in the correct position would be another alternative.
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Author: cigleris
Date: 2007-12-24 12:52
It's all in the mind. Relaxed mind, relaxed fingers.
Peter Cigleris
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Author: chito
Date: 2007-12-24 16:24
Hi i have the same problem i got arm tension while im playing .
I played clarinet almost everday because this is my job . I did
alot of reseach and asked some professional players adviced
to know what kind of exercises the best .
My suggestion only you must need a lot of patience in practise
speacially when you are frostrated and need some rest .
In my situation my Rh 3rd and 4th finger is very tense .
but before idont have this only my RH pinky finger get sitff .
Now im always concentrating in this finger but i have only small progress.
I bought a book of Professor lary Guy very interesting book for hand exercise i think will help you this . And if you want to try neck strap i
think you will get another trouble in your finger now because you have already tension and if you will use strap you will push your thumb rest always to support the instrument and this will cause you another
tension in your shoulder .I used strap for almost 2 years but this summer when i attend a master class of Mr. Neidich he wont me to play no strap its very difficult for me but i tried it and effective my arm tension get relax specially my shoulder and my sound get better now. Also try to practise very slow fill the move ment of fingers until you master it.And take long
rest and enjoy playing clarinet dont give up.And please let me know if you
are get progress.........
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Author: C2thew
Date: 2007-12-24 16:40
i hope you don't have tendonitis. I was helping my friend practice on piano when i actually felt her hand muscles were severely tight by the tendonitis. it could be a biological factor that's creating arm tension
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. they are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which was already but too easy to arrive as railroads lead to Boston to New York
-Walden; Henry Thoreau
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Author: rollercoastermike
Date: 2007-12-25 00:17
Thanks for the responses. I'm going to be analyzing why this is, and for now avoid my RH B.
Happy holidays!
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