 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Melanie
Date: 2002-05-05 18:46
I have problems with my ring finger and pinky "colapsing" or locking while playing the clarinet. I've tried holding the clarinet with my knees and moving my hand position and it seems to help. I then tried a friend's clarinet with an adjustable TR and got the same results. this summer, I am getting an overhaul and I plan to put an adjustable TR on at the same time. Does anyone have any recomendations as to which TR to use or should I just go for the standard adjustable one? Any input would be appreciated.
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Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2002-05-05 22:17
Lower your sights Melanie (about four threads down) to "Reinventing the Thumbrest).
Bob A
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-05-06 14:44
As Bob A said, read "Reinventing the TR", and as Gordon says there, the "inverting of the TR" and use of a rubber cushion {$1.00] has solved my [rt hand] fingering problems, and I recommend that [at least] as a first step toward [expensive, adjustable HIGHER!] TR- changing experimentation. Don
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Author: William
Date: 2002-05-06 15:21
Adjustable thumb rests are great in that you will be able to move the rest upwards without having to drill new holes. FYI--Stanley Hasty--professor of clarinet (retired), Eastman School of Music--doesn't bother with drilling holes. He said he simply glues the stock thumb rest in place, and if he wants to move it again, he "just knocks it off and re-glues it elsewhere."
I have Selmer adjustable rests on my Buffet R-13s (with small sections of auto brakeline hose) and Bay adjustable rests on my LeBlanc Concertos. They are all adjusted so that my thumb rests directly under my first finger which frees up my r-h little finger action remarkably. Both TRs are about as comfortable--the Selmer being the most affordable (Bay get almost $100.00 per TR) Kind of makes glue and brake hose sections sound like the best options.
I agree not to hold the clarinet bell between your knees, but resting it on top of one knee is acceptable practice. Have you tried a neckstrap?? There are also specialized clarinet stands, usually advertised in The Clarinet or available from major music stores--like International Musical Suppliers in DesPlaines, IL. http://www.kintlmusicalsuppliers.com Hope this helps a bit--Good Clarineting!!!!
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Author: Bob
Date: 2002-05-06 23:07
Hmmm...sounds like a hasty tr fix...and just hope it doesn't let loose during a performance. Why not rest the clarinet between one's knees!
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Author: James
Date: 2002-05-07 04:29
try the Kooiman adjustable TR. It has made a world of difference for me!
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2002-05-07 14:03
I would never trust the adhesive properties of ANY glue to a surface that is likely to be oily, or waxy, or even covered with black filler. The adhesion is only as good as that between the molecules of the materials mentioned themselves.
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Author: William
Date: 2002-05-07 14:55
I must admit to a small measure of surprize when I heard Stanley Hasty say, "just glue it on" in a master class a couple years ago. (He did advise using non-water soluble adhesive) However, when someone of Dr. Hastey's prominance in the clarinet community --his former Eastman students occupy positions in colleges and major orchestras world-wide--makes a statement regarding pedagogy or practice, one should take notice. At the very least, in this era of multitecho devices everywhere that promise darker this or more responsive that, it somewhat de-mystifies and reveals the practical, no-nonsense approach of the master teachers/performers to the art of clarinetistry.
We all like to find the "right reed " for performances??? One of my friends who was a former student of the great William Stubbens used to tell how he would scream at his students, "play the reed--don't let the reed play you." Stubbens used to advocate playing whatever came out of the box. Like the story of Charles Niedich--appearing as guest soloist with an orchestra-- cracking open a new box of V12s five minutes before downbeat, putting the first reed out of the box in his mouth and walking out to perform.
I think sometimes that we clarinetists tend to "over-analyze" rather than "just do it." No mouthpiece, reed, ligiture, barrel, bell, custom whatever, bore oil (or not), swab, reed holder, reed clipper, cork grease, music stand, instrument or "salt over the shoulder" can substitue for innate talent honned by regular, meaningful practice and years of playing experiance. I must admit to a closet full of all-of-the-above that I have accumulated over the years, but the fact remains, the more I play, the better I play. So, my "hats off" to Stanley Hasty for his "just glue it" statement. It's refreashing--Good Clarineting!!!!!!
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Author: ron b
Date: 2002-05-08 04:36
I'd like to second that amen, John. I think William said it very well. You're either in charge of your instrument, or you're not. I agree one hundred percent.
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Author: lala
Date: 2002-05-08 09:37
My Bb does not have adjustable TR. Instead, I found out how to hold it without locking the rest of the fingers. It is a matter of balance.
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Author: jez
Date: 2002-05-08 14:36
Melanie starts this off by saying her problem is of fingers collapsing or locking. Surely, then, the cause of this is not the vertical height of the thumb-rest but the position of the hand regarding how flat or curved are her fingers. I don't know if any T.R. adjusts sideways to accommodate this, but suspect she needs to re-assess her hand position
jez
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Author: melanie
Date: 2002-05-09 20:29
Thanks for all of the responses. I do not actually hold the instrument between my knees. I did this once to support the instrument while I tried to move my hand position. As for finding a new hand position to solve the locking fingers, my teacher and I have worked on this. It has gotten a lot better, but we both believe that my hand position would be much better with an adjustable tr. We decided this after I played another clarinet with an adjustable tr for quite a while. Not only did it help my finger position, but it also helped some of the fatigue that I got(I have tendanitus in my right wrist). I think I will try the Kooiman after all. Thanks again!
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