 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Noverbuf
Date: 2009-11-25 13:02
I've just read through many posts on this BB where it was recommended to move the TR up as one of the measures to prevent developing or stop write hand wrist (or thumb) injuries that are common to clarinettists.
May I ask you a question: why are most of the clarinets made (designed) with the TR set too low which (how often?) results in hand injuries? Is this simply the traditional placement of the TR or otherwise are there not so many people who experience problems with the low position of TR?
Those who experience the problems are then merely "unlucky" with hands
prone to various kinds of RSI.
What do you think is the percentage of clarinet players who experience write hand wrist problems and what therefore would be the desired percentage of clarinets manufactured with higher TR position to avoid developing right hand wrist injuries for those who are prone to them?
Post Edited (2009-11-25 13:04)
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2009-11-25 14:00
I may be the LONE voice of dissent, but I STRONGLY advise anyone to consider the thumbrest position in relation to where the right index finger sits (at rest) in relation to the lowest side key.
This key is involved extensively for chalameau "Eb" and clarion "Bb."
If your index finger winds up "above" this key (I mean higher up the horn) then to hit it you wind up pushing your hand lower by thrusting your thumb up (I can't imagine any other way to compensate for this position error).
THIS is (in my view) what causes far too much unecessary strain to many.
So I say LEAVE THE THUMBREST DOWN.
I have big hands and actually have techs set mine even lower (opposite the top edge of the second finger hole).
Just be careful making changes like this.
..................Paul Aviles
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2009-11-25 14:27
I use the original position of the thumb rest. I also have a bit of cork glued to it and a rubber cushion over it making it lower. I tried raising it for a while and it caused pain that was impossible to tolerate so I returned it to the original position which feels very good.
the problem was that in the higher position my thumb was using a muscle very hard. It's a muscle around the connection of the thumb and the hand. In regular position my thumb is pushed down slightly and this prevent the use of this muscle. The pain was similar for example to holding weights while stretching your hands to the side. The lower thumb rest solves this problem in the same way that you can't hold a fist very hard when your wrists are bent.
By far most other players I see use the original position of the thumb rest and don't have problems from this.
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Author: Chris Hill
Date: 2009-11-25 15:29
I was experiencing hand/wrist/arm pain, so I went to Mayo Clinic. They had me play clarinet with biofeedback machine sensors attached to my arms. For me, the best position ws to have the thumbrest moved up so it was almost even with the index finger. This was one of the things I did to heal my arms.
Others may find this to not work for them, but I think it should be considered.
If you are experiencing arm problems, I would recommend Mayo highly! One of their hand surgeons is the principal oboist of the Rochester (MN) Symphony.
Chris
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Author: salzo
Date: 2009-11-25 15:50
Practice independent of the thumb rest all together. Rest the clarinet on knee or thigh, Let the thumb float above, below, to the side-basically wherever your hand feels comfortable. You might want to even try taking the thum rest off, and playing without one to see where your hand feels the best. Of course, without the rest you are going to have some issues on certain notes, but dont worry about that at the beginning.
Wherever your hand is comfortable, is where your thumb rest should be placed.
Personally, I use the thumb rest as a "rest" in the traditional sense of a rest. I rest my foot on a foot rest, my arm on an arm rest, and my thumb on a thumb rest- sometimes I place my thum on the back of the rest to balance the clarinet on specific notes, but I NEVER place my thumb underneath the thumb rest.
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Author: TianL
Date: 2009-11-25 16:20
also give ridenour thumb rest a try, only cost about $10. use it for about for one week and see if it helps.
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2009-11-25 16:31
Why do they do it? It works well enough that most people don't complain, and getting it adjusted is very much a matter of personal preference, with a hugely variable range of possible optimal positions.
Clarinet is the most ergonomically friendly woodwind family by a significant margin (I'd say bass is the friendliest, followed by Eb if your fingers are thin enough), and I'm thankful that the thumbrest is the only thing I need adjusted by a tech for hand/body position purposes.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-11-25 17:14
I agree with Paul about lowering the thumb rest in some cases but also with David that each of us is different. I had my thumb rests lower after trying someones that already had that done. I used to have to stretch my pinky and 3rd finger to cover to bottom hole. Once I lowered the thumb rest and it took away all the tension in my right hand and made my technique better not having to stretch. If you're having a problem you need to try all alternatives. I've posted this before. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2009-11-25 17:20
Sax is reasonably ergonomic, except for the instrument position on the lower ones that leaves you twisted sideways. Bassoon has similar sideways-imbalance issues, flute leaves you terribly convoluded.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: kdk
Date: 2009-11-25 18:35
Depends on the brand and the age of the saxophone. Sax layouts are much less standardized than clarinet.
Karl
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Author: Eddydavik
Date: 2009-11-25 20:52
Ended up purchasing the Kooiman Maestro thumb rest due to the size of my hand. It's been adjusted to fit my hand in a rest position (hanging off to the side of the body) so both the thumb and wrist are in a natural resting position rather than being bent for playing adjustment... if that makes sense. It has taken away a lot of joint pain that I normally would get after an ensemble rehearsal. So with that, my thumb's tip is just a fraction (if even) below that of the index finger.
Edward Escobar
Suita City Wind Ensemble
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Author: doublej
Date: 2009-11-25 21:14
I purchased the adjustable thumb rests frombuffet. I suspected that I wanted them higher but did not want to have a bunch of holes trying to find the right spot. When I had the rest installed I made sure that at one of the points the rest would be at the orignal position an I had two above and one below that point
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2009-11-25 22:30
As posted above all hands are different and it is illogical to expect one fixed position to suit everyone.
Most players seem to accept this situation without query until questioned.
As a repairer I have been asked on quite a few occasions to raise the thumrest but not to date to lower it. Personally I find I need my thumrest at least 1/4 inch (6mm) higher for comfort but can fully accept there will be some (although I believe fewer) who want it lower.
The adjustable thumbrest is the logical answer, my pet gripe is that most manufacturers set it too low so that there still is not enough upward adjustment (especially for players who use the thick rubber bumpers).
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2009-11-26 08:25
On my Yamaha I have moved the rest up 15 mm, and much prefer it there. My thumb does not carry out any weird contortions when I use the side keys.
I have no rubber padding on it.
I would prefer the rest higher still, but don't like the idea of the screws being too close to the tenon socket.
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