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Re: opening case

Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2017-08-11 23:36

I'm not sure if the O.P. seeks remedy to this, especially given its infrequency, yet I will explore that angle.

I'm sure that I would be susceptible to this if I didn't use a case that springs open when its latches are released

http://tinyurl.com/y7khjrjz

(I subscribe the to idea of a minimalist case and a gig bag to hold it and the rest of my wares, rather than a large clarinet case that holds all.)

Recently I bought a cover for the case whose additional weight negates the springs to open it--making retrieval of its contents difficult if one hand must keep the case open while the other retrieves the instrument. To address this I cut a small wooden dowel to prop it open.

Consider employing a similar strategy combined with a mindset that says "if the dowel is down" the latches are shut, as simply in your situation a mental reminder, or if you prefer, "if the case is down the latches are shut"

This disciplined mindset comes from my first teacher, who felt there were basically 3 places for a clarinet: disassembled in a case, in your hands playing, or safely down, say on clarinet peg. To point it use to drive him bonkers if students, say, fetched for things with one hand, with the clarinet in the other--making each hand's content susceptible to damage.

I think in hindsight that this adherence to sensible rule was excellent training for the budding player, like posture when playing.

Yet another solution is a case of the dual handle type featured in the second picture here

http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=400147&t=400147

...coincidently also a Pochette case.

As long as you pick it up with both handles, the clarinet not falling out should be the situation whether the latches are shut or not.

Perhaps yet another is use of two strong rare earth magnets, affixed to the case, that come together when the case is closed, creating what the engineers might call a "dead man switch for opening."

Post Edited (2017-08-12 00:33)

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