 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: awildman
Date: 2015-04-22 23:42
I am in need of outside perspective. I'm a violin player in my late 30s. I don't have a ton of musical experience having started later in life. I don't have a great amount of dexterity as I was blessed with working hands rather than delicate musician hands. Between that and my newfound arthritis I believe it is time to think about switching to an instrument that doesn't require me to double as a contortionist. Also a factor is the role of the instrument. I have no great aspirations other than to play at church occasionally and eventually play for friends and family. So far I am considering clarinet, basoon, and cello. I am open to others of course. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.
-Aaron
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2015-04-23 01:11
Aaron -
Clarinet requires a strong right thumb and precise (though not extreme) finger movements.
Bassoon requires wide finger stretches and extreme dexterity of your thumbs, particularly the left thumb.
Cello has much more natural hand positions than violin, but you must hold the bow up constantly, which is more tiring than it seems. Big "working" hands are an advantage.
Breath and tongue control are a big part of wind instrument playing. However, you already know how to breathe and speak, so it's just a matter of refinement.
Clarinet and bassoon need good finger dexterity to play anything past the beginner level.
Have you thought about the trumpet, or perhaps singing?
There's lots of serious music for the recorder, plus informal ensembles in most places. Begin with the alto, not the soprano. By far the best choice is the Yamaha YRA-302BIII, which costs only $25.75 at http://www.lazarsearlymusic.com/Yamaha-Recorders/yamaha_recorders.htm#PlasticRecorders.
Ken Shaw
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Author: maxopf
Date: 2015-04-23 03:37
I play both violin and clarinet, and I've tried bassoon and cello. Cello would likely come easiest to you because of its similarities to violin, but it's probably more likely to hurt your hands, as the finger stretches and finger/bow pressure required are greater. Bassoon requires wide finger stretches and thumb dexterity as Ken Shaw mentioned. Clarinet requires the least finger movement of any of the instruments you mentioned, though it does require some pinky dexterity. You need right thumb strength to hold it up, but you can always rest the bell on your knees or use a neck strap.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2015-04-23 04:05
I've had to give up classical guitar because arthritis was making it difficult and painful to play, but I still play clarinet without too much trouble. The problem of right thumb strength can easily be overcome by means of something like a Ton Kooiman ergonomic thumb rest. My thumbs are both affected by arthritis and a Kooiman rest fixes the problem.
Hand size also need not be an issue, I have hands like shovels and fingers like sausages and like yours mine are working tools. The keywork of wind instruments can be shaped and formed to accommodate different hand sizes and shapes. If you can't do this yourself then a few minutes with a tech will enable him to do it for you. You might also consider getting a closed-hole or plateau clarinet. One of these enabled me to play with carpal tunnel syndrome.
Tony F.
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Author: awildman
Date: 2015-04-23 06:10
Thank you for the replies so far. The advice is much appreciated. Now that I'm on my computer instead of my phone, perhaps I can clarify a point or two.
My hands are not large, but average. They are just not really nimble, nor very fast. They favor the strength department, but not excessively. I currently play violin at a low intermediate level, and think my ceiling is around the high intermediate or lower end of advanced - whatever that is.
What sorts of embouchure considerations might there be? Arthritis can affect soft tissue, and I occasionally have TMJ issues. My medication should clear up much of my pain, but I don't know at this early stage how effective it will be.
What about oboe? On the surface it would seem comparable to clarinet, and I wouldn't have to worry about transposing.
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Author: JHowell
Date: 2015-04-23 06:57
Hand position for clarinet is much more natural than oboe. Maybe just give it a go and see if it hurts? Maybe invest in a lesson or two to ensure that you start off with a good hand position. I've seen bad hand position cripple 20-year-olds.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2015-04-23 09:28
Bass Clarinet.
No weight on your thumb as it stands on a peg. Not quite as fast fingers required due to repertoire. Same range as a cello with significantly less bulk.
(edit: fixed typo)
--
Ben
Post Edited (2015-04-24 21:28)
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Author: Mike Blinn
Date: 2015-04-23 15:32
I was about to suggest the bass clarinet as well. For one thing, it is so much fun! It's a plateau clarinet (no open holes to cover) and it stands on the floor so all you need to do is balance it as you play. Dexterity is important but hand size is not. I have small hands and can play my Yamaha bass with no problem. I find the embouchure requires less pressure than the Bb, and in the lower register, a soft reed works well (#3) for me. If you join a band, you'll find the literature generally easier than that for the standard Bb.
Mike Blinn
Bass Clarinet
Middletown Symphonic Band (CT)
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2015-04-23 16:22
Not that I don't love the clarinet but have you considered dobro? It play flat like a zither (or peddle steel guitar) and the left hand is mostly slider bar and pinky. You rest your right hand on the instrument and pluck with just thumb, first and second fingers. The instrument itself can lay flat in your lap or be placed on a tv tray (or some such small table).
Lot of great YOUTUBE videos.
Of course it would help if you liked bluegrass music.
..............Paul Aviles
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Author: GeorgeL ★2017
Date: 2015-04-23 17:48
I'd suggest an alto saxophone. Closed holes; large pads; fingers can land almost anywhere on a key and close it.
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2015-04-24 02:44
There is little doubt that the saxophone is probably the easiest of the woodwinds to play at least up to to a good intermediate standard.
In addition to points in previous post the embouchure is fairly relaxed, wind pressure is quite moderate and the sax is the least picky instrument regarding reeds.
Oboe reed is probably the hardest of any reeds to master and whilst the fingering system is straightforward (easier than clarinet) as noted earlier the physical keywork positioning is far from ergonomic.
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Author: chris moffatt
Date: 2015-04-24 16:16
All good points above. I'd just add, as another arthritis sufferer, that it's never affected my embouchure. I'd think arthritis of facial muscles severe enough to cause problems would be quite unusual. TMJ could be another issue entirely depending on severity. You likely wouldn't know until you'd tried clarinet for a while.
The range of finger motion required in playing clarinet is not large, in fact the smaller it is while not interfering with venting the better. Note that most clarinets put the thumbrest in an arkward position for people who have arthritis of the thumb joint. This can be easily fixed by fitting an adjustable rest and moving it north of its standard position. The Ton Kooiman rest which I use, takes weight off the second thumb joint which is much more comfortable; it also is adjustable to a better playing position. But as everything else with clarinets it's an individual thing - what works for some doesn't work for others. That's why there are so many options out there.
If you do elect to start clarinet make it a Boehm system horn; the finger stretches required on other systems, such as german systems, can be quite uncomfortable for folk with arthritis of the hands
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2015-04-24 21:43
There are some issues with dexterity, reach, moving between keys, but certainly a better option than violin - at least your hands remain in a more natural position.
..............Paul Aviles
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