 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Ken Rasmussen
Date: 2000-11-14 02:58
I got and installed my Kooiman Maestro thumbrest several days ago. I was a little puzzled by the instructions as to the location of the thumbrest, and emailed Mr. Kooiman. He responded (promptly and helpfully) as follows:
Dear Mr. Rasmussen,
Thank you very much for your mail.
The measurement of 24mm for the clarinet is okay. (And 17 to 18 mm for the oboe).
I understand that this was a little low for you on the R13 clarinet.
The reason may be the following:
1) This measurement is an average for most of the (many different) clarinets.
2) In the last series, I noticed that the adjustment screws where not turned in at the right length.
(The screw on the mountingslide too far out and the screw on the thumb rest too far in).
3) The thumb and forefinger should be at the same level (average).
But in the daily practise of adjustment it appears that the thumb is a little lower.
The thumb rest should be adjusted so that you are comfortable and relaxed. When you rest your hand, hanging aside your body, then you have a posture of the hand that we like to have on the instrument.
In your mail, I read that it took you more than an our to adjust the thumb rest. This I often the case.
The Maestro thumb rest is received with great enthousiasm by many musicians because of the many possibilities of adjustment.
But if there is a disadvantage, it is just this complexity!
I am of course not always there to assist with the adjustment. As I do very often in my workshop here.
I hope that you take some time to get used to this new way of using your muscles (Because of your tennis elbow).
The carying of your instrument is now an active one instead of passively hanging in the tendons with the tip of your thumb curling upwards.
Be sure to make good contact with the hollow space in the casing. This requires a little more use of the muscle at the inside of your thumb. (To bend the thumb for grasping).
Please do contact me if you like further assistance or for questions.
Many greetings and lots of succes!
Ton.
(In other words, the dimension supplied in the mounting instructions is correct, though when I mounted it 7 mm higher it worked fine.) The thumbrest is very nicely made. The materials and workmanship justify the high price. If a medical difficulty can be addressed the product could be viewed as downright inexpensive compared to any medical alternatives. The thumbrest completely changes the hand position and the balance of the horn. It will take some getting used to. The rest can be reconfigured in an almost infinite variety of ways. A person who is quite happy with their present rest would probably be well advised to avoid this since it will feel different. A person dissatisfied with the status quo, especially an injured person dissatisfied with the status quo, ought to get one of these.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Anji
Date: 2000-11-14 13:16
How's the sensation in your elbow after using this? I went to the TK when the elastic strap didn't work out for me. Once I'm certain that I like the position, I may "tack" it in place with a little epoxy.
There are some interesting forces at work on the lowest screw. I also think the adapter plate way not be the cut on the proper arc to fit most horns (it seems a little shallow).
Three observations that I hope help (I've used mine almost eight months, now);
The photocopy instructions don't mention the contact point at the tip of the thumb, I use a mouthpiece pad to make it a little less slick.
The weight bearing point need to be perpendicular to the floor, in your normal playing position. This really makes all the difference.
The "elbow" joint seems to always work loose, so have the allen key handy.
***
I find this gizmo solving lots of problems facing an adult beginner. Not even mentioned in the ads is the increased diameter resulting. My hands are big enough that this allows me to play with my fingers quite relaxed = better speed control.
Are you doing any wrist stretches? There are a few my friends who practice Aikido showed (they look ridiculous, but worked) that have really helped.
I hate like hell when I can't play because of tendonitis!
Best of luck
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: mark weinstein
Date: 2000-11-15 00:49
Is this the (professional) model that Kooiman has sold for some time, or a newer model? Thanks for the review.
From what I have heard said by quite a few pro's, the consensus is that the Kooiman is a oiption to avoid medical alternatives. I've see many pro's after a performance, or in the moments between movements of a piece, doing that familiar "wrist shake:. mw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Rasmussen
Date: 2000-11-15 02:58
As I understand it, Kooiman makes two models: The Etude is plastic, and is less adjustable and less costly, but still carries the weight of the clarinet in closer to the base of the thumb--same principle, in other words. The Maestro, which is what I have, is completely adjustable--bewilderingly adjustable! The two good things it does are, it applies less strain to the thumb, and it allows the right hand to be in a less stressed position. Consequently it is very helpful in avoiding or recovering from thumb or arm injuries. I have tennis elbow, and after a couple of days of fiddling with the rest and practicing, I'm not having an arm problem. How about that! It takes a little getting used to, but it isn't clumsy. I like it.
Anji: You might try a light grade of locktite. You can also communicate directly with Ton by means of email (through his website). I have his email address someplace if you have any difficulty finding it.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: mark weinstein
Date: 2000-11-15 04:40
Yes, thats the one I have. I bought it before the price increase for $110 w/the 2 mounting brackets. Its still sitting in the wooden box that it came in. Prices have nearly doubled since. mw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Anji
Date: 2000-11-15 12:58
Thanks for the pointer, Ken.
The fibrous washer at the joint should work as a spring, but once I've set the position LocTite should trick.
I really dig this gizmo, and suppose the less expensive one should work well, too.
Best of luck on your recovery.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: mark weinstein
Date: 2000-11-15 15:43
I have the "lesser one" from Kooiman, too. It is TOTALLY different. It is called the Etude. It sells for $24.95 retail, with a street price of $19 or so. Got mine from IMS. mw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2000-11-15 15:47
I recently found an European [or PCT] patent to Kooiman, so when I return home, I'll post it and other info I have. I read the installation instructions [top post] with great interest, as I have long been an advocate of higher location [than what most makers provide] for the purposes of basic comfort, better "pinch" of thumb-to-first finger" and making easier actuation by the right-hand little finger to the E/B key WITHOUT touching the F/C and/or pulling the 3 rd finger off the tone hole [which many beginners have trouble with {squeek!!} ]. Hope this may be of some help. Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2000-11-17 15:55
The Kooiman thumb-rest patent [application] is published with title and filing details only in the World Patent Index [WIPO] also known as Pat. Coop. Treaty [PCT] as WO 00/39784 with priority to NL 99/00820. It is classified in the Int'l Classificaation System in G100, 9/00, which is prob. the "home" for miscellaneous woodwind patents. I'll check to watch for issuance of a US pat, much easier to obtain copy Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Kristen Denny
Date: 2000-11-21 22:07
Mark and others,
The Italian clarinetist, Alessandro Cabonaire (probably misspelled), uses the Kooiman thumb-rest. I saw him recently at the clarinetfest in Norman, OK. He used it in all of his performances, and many of the young artist competition cadidates used it as well. Once I saw it there, I bought one and tried it out. I suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome, however I no longer suffer. I've had the Kooiman on my Bb now for about 4 months. I could never go back. Two weeks after having the first one, I order another to mount onto my A. Several of my collegues here at TU and area teachers have also tried the thumb rest. Even my own professor is in the process of ordering hers after trying mine (she's principal of the Tulsa Phil) However, the people with longer fingers did not find it to be useful. It seems to be a growing trend with us "short and stubby" fingered people. Therefore, also ideal for the younger players. Just my two cents...
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
