 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: connie
Date: 2001-07-18 22:08
OK, it's official, I really broke my finger. Not only that, but I waited a couple of weeks to see if it would get better on its own (hah!) So now I have this splint that I'm not allowed to take off FOR ANYTHING for at least the next month "then we'll see". The splint of course is on the palm side of my ring finger, making right-hand notes on the clarinet mostly impossible. I tried to rig up a pad on the splint to cover the tone hole, but it didn't work.
I don't suppose any of you know of any temporary modifications so I can play...any suggestions will be appreciated...otherwise I'm stuck playing sax and doing tonguing exercises only!!!
connie
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Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2001-07-19 00:21
Rent, borrow or buy(?) ANY clarinet with plateau keys (like even maybe a Eb Alto or best of all a Bb Bass.)Sorry to hear of your injury, but you must remember beating the kids is a No No!! 8=]]
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Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2001-07-19 02:27
Connie, in case you thought I was kidding, check out Terry's response to another question earlier on: Quoting now: "Author: Terry Horlick (---.o1.jps.net)
Date: 07-18-01 20:39
Lawrence,
I was having a chat over the telephone with my tech (she has just rebuilt a 4th clarinet for me... my FB Buffet). She told me about a conversion of a nice clarinet she was doing. She was making it into a plateau horn for the owner who had severe arthritis and could no longer seal up the tone holes with his fingers. A plateau horn is one with pads instead of rings and holes.
If you were to do this to your, or another, horn you could then have the key positions altered by putting touch pads at different locations. This is how saxes manage to have the fingerings reachable for all horns from the Eb sopranino down to the Eb contra bass.
You need a talented creative repair person to do this. It is not a slam dunk. The tech will have to see where your hands are too crowded and do some thinking before the modifications are attempted. The tech will also need to modify the holes so a pad can be used. So if you are serious get in touch with your tech ( I use Sue Schaake at WW&BW, you should be able to find someone fairly close to your location though) and talk it through... and don't leave home without your check book!"
Bob A
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Author: Ashley
Date: 2001-07-19 02:46
think of this as the perfect time to pick up god's instrument, the bass clarinet
~Ashley~
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Author: David Pegel
Date: 2001-07-19 04:08
God's instrument IMO is the contra - which also has plateau keys BTW
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Author: Suzanne
Date: 2001-07-19 04:50
I don't mean to be a party pooper, but it is possible to do serious/permanent damage to a broken finger by playing on it, as I know of musicians who have... You might want to ask your doctor if it's okay to play. A month off now is better than lifelong pain and stiffness, if your finger is not in good enough condition yet. Sorry to be such a downer, but I know of people this has happened to.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-07-19 12:48
Unless the break in the tip section of yourn finger or the first joint from the nail I very much doubt that the splint needs to go all the way to the pad of your finger. If it were me I would shorten the splint myself or find a more cooperative medical person to do it.
In reply to Suzanne, in many cases parts heal faster if they ARE used (gently) because the use increases blood suply - I think. As long as the broken bit itself is mobilized it does not matter what you do with the rest of your body, and that rest may well include the pad at the end of yourn finger and the muscles that operate the finger as a complete, reinforced unit. I have had several broken arms and was ENCOURAGED to use my fingers. This may well apply on a smaller scale to a broken finger. Find a doc who is logical rather than a recipe-follower and discuss it.
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Author: David Pegel
Date: 2001-07-19 15:35
All instruments are God's instruments. Otherwise why would we have orchestras and bands, with wonderful people to play them and are apparently willing to sacrifice quite a bit just to play?
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Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2001-07-19 16:00
For Gordon (NZ). It must help with alternate fingering , but "on this side of the big river" we only get TWO arms, one on each side. (Gordon said: "I have had several broken arms")
Bob A
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Author: Laurie
Date: 2001-07-19 17:01
Hi !
I know a broken finger is frustrating beyond words. As well as being a clarinest, I play varsity basketball at my high school. As much as you want to take that stupid metal long splint off, or cut it shorter- It is important that you listen and wear it. Your finger will heal faster and will cause fewer problmes in the long run. Why not talk to your doctor - mabye for a week you can wear the splint - then for the new few weeks, you can tape it. I've made that deal before and it was worked wonders. Which is worse .. Not playing for a few weeks... or not being able to play for life ? It's amazing how much trouble a little finger can cause !!!!!
Laurie
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Author: Laurie
Date: 2001-07-19 17:01
Hi !
I know a broken finger is frustrating beyond words. As well as being a clarinest, I play varsity basketball at my high school. As much as you want to take that stupid metal long splint off, or cut it shorter- It is important that you listen and wear it. Your finger will heal faster and will cause fewer problmes in the long run. Why not talk to your doctor - mabye for a week you can wear the splint - then for the new few weeks, you can tape it. I've made that deal before and it was worked wonders. Which is worse .. Not playing for a few weeks... or not being able to play for life ? It's amazing how much trouble a little finger can cause !!!!!
Laurie
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Author: connie
Date: 2001-07-19 17:44
In reply to all:
thanks for your thoughts, keep 'em coming...
the break is at the joint nearest the tip. For 2 weeks I splinted it when it wasn't inconvenient (eg taking a shower, playing the clarinet, typing) but it was starting to heal in a permanently flexed position, which is why the splint goes to the tip and can't come off for a month. so the hand surgeon read me the riot act, and yes, i'd rather give up playing for a month now than have it never work properly again. i asked about playing the clarinet, and he said that was fine if i could play with the splint on (obviously not a clarinetist!) but he's well-respected in his field.
as far as trying to take it off after a week or two, i don't dare after his reaction to my part-time idea of splinting...i guess i don't heal as well at 47 as i did at 17.
so my only problem is this gig i'm supposed to play at church in 2 weeks...
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Author: David Pegel
Date: 2001-07-19 19:31
Get plateau keys on the right hand, QUICK!! That's all I can see.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2001-07-19 19:41
Postpone the church gig, Connie. They'll understand. You'll sound just as good later if you take care of yourself now.
Your hand surgeon went to doctor school for a long time to learn how to scold impatient patients and gain their respect when they get better. Listen up :]
- ron b -
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Author: Lynn
Date: 2001-07-19 22:35
Connie,
I'm sitting here with a broken arm (trying to type) and can't even pick up my clarinet. So I understand! However, your doc is right to be cautious. Why endanger your finger to permenent pain or early arthristis when you just need to take a few weeks off? I can't play for 4 months! But do those mouthpiece exercises.
Take care of that finger,
Lynn
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-07-20 11:36
Bob: Hehe! LOL.
Connie: "joint nearest the tip". OK, I give in; ignore my previous advice.
Next suggestion, get a 16 or 17 mm clarinet pad (or better, sax pad without resonator or rivet) preferably of soft felt, and glue it to the splint.
So you want it removable? Well tape it on using that white teflon plumbers tape, preferably without wrinkles. iIf it hurts to use it, don't use it. If it doesn't hurt, then the splint is successfully protecting the break while you play.
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Author: connie
Date: 2001-07-20 20:26
Gordon:
it doesn't hurt to use it, especially with the splint.
i tried moleskin, but it didn't work. i'll try the pad and see if it works better. I know that plateau keys are the answer, but don't seem to be worth the effort for a few weeks. certainly if this hand surgeon is wrong and i still have a frozen joint, i'll have to look into that.
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Author: Leanne
Date: 2001-07-21 20:54
The contra is the divine instrument...the player blows into it and only God knows what comes out....
Anyway, I would say that a month seems like forever, but just give your finger a break (no pun intended)...after all you still have 7 and 2 thumbs. I'd say, play what you can, and just deal. Don't put your finger in anymore danger.
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Author: Ken
Date: 2001-07-22 17:47
I found out a long time ago too much time ON the horn is just as debilitating as not playing enough. Quality time off the horn is just as healthy to musical growth as being ON the horn...and the more you play on a regular basis the more critical it becomes. Routine down time is just as fundamental as any other aspect of playing. Of course, it's not the quantity but quality of playing/practicing time that makes the best and most well rounded musician. When benched with a broken finger once I discovered exercising just my hands/technique by gently fingering notes of whatever I was working on/performing was surprisingly difficult if not frustrating, productive/challenging and a unique experience...try it. No reed, or putting the horn in my mouth, just resting the barrel against my neck/shoulder and/or in a natural playing position.
Doing this occasionally will pay big dividends. It promotes a lighter and more accurate touch, strengthens right brain/left brain activity and independence; physical versus mental application. Forces the ear to listen to itself and creating the pitch in your head. You can also selvedge while fingering to improve lyrical interpretation.
If it was me, I'd stay off the finger, at least actual blowing and let it heal properly, I know how tough it is for a motivated/dedicated player to have to lay off due to injury or other hindrance. But, if you don't let the body heal itself it's own way and at its own pace you could be inviting further complications with the ole' digit later in life. <:-))
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-07-23 14:39
When I have nothing better to do with my hands, like when watchuing TV, I sometimes find I have them clasped and am practicing fingering with them in this position. or they are separate and I practice fiingering on their respective palms.
I once knew a teacher who had the whole class learning the recorder. Those who were slow to acquire an instrument were provided with a stick with painted tone holes. Those children soon acquired instruments.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2001-07-23 19:16
Connie,
I can certainly identify with you a bit. I fell a few years ago and broke my fall by landing on my right hand and breaking it in a major way. When I was going down I remember thinking "Ok, I can land on my head like I'm going, or I can break my fall by falling on my hand and probably breaking it." I opted for the hand. It was obviously broken (quite deformed). I had heard all kinds of horror stories from musicians who had had similar problems and were unable to play their instruments from poor treatment from emergency room physicians (a midnight accident--of course), so I took a deep breath and snapped the bones back into position before going to the hospital.
I had to go to two different specialists before getting it put into a proper cast, but used to give everyone the "willies" by taking the cast off for performances and then putting it back on until it healed. I still had a hard time with it after it was "healed" and have had to do hand exercises since breaking it. So, "Bite the bullet" when it's well and do some very energetic exercises to keep it flexible.
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