 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Matt Locker
Date: 2002-10-29 12:08
For the folks who ARE using the Kooiman Etude thumbrest - and since the subject of thumbrests has come up again:
How do you work around the twisting of the instrument when you play the "few-fingered" notes such as F at the bottom of the staff & C above the staff? This is caused by the pivot point being moved away from the centerline of the instrument.
I tried an Etude on my instrument for about 6 months but finally removed it because of the above issue. I tried applying moleskin to the thumbpad but it did not help.
Any suggestions welcome.
Matt
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2002-10-29 18:26
The torque you describe is pronounced, due to the offcenter placement of the thumbrest... closer to the proximal phalanx.
quid pro quo - Ya can't get something for nothing.
The solution (C above the staff?) is to have a rather firm embouchure as a second anchor. I had the same wobble effect, but it helped train a better position for the altissimo range.
The cheapest solution is to have your standard thumbrest moved up a notch, Stan Hasty would use epoxy to affix his (and he played!).
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Author: Matt Locker
Date: 2002-10-29 19:55
So the question is "Has anyone come up with a solution to this problem?" I know about the problem - having experienced it myself - and have tried a few ECs with limited success. I'm hoping maybe other players may have come up alternate fixes that may actually work.
Matt
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Author: bob49t
Date: 2002-10-30 05:30
Is the Etude thumbrest adjustable L and R (ie at 90 degrees to the main axis of the clarinet) ?
This is the case with the Maestro version and this recentres the support reducing this torquing effect when open c/f is played.
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Author: Sylvain
Date: 2002-10-30 13:36
There are 3 adjustments:
Entire TR up down.
Just the curved part up down.
Just the curved part angle.
If you move the curved part towards you I find the clarinet more stable and the hand position better.
However, I never really had this problem:
In the throat notes, I tend to cover other holes with my left and to "resonate" the notes. For high "C" and similar and around I tend to push slightly the clarinet into my front teeth for sound and I guess it stabilizes the instrument.
Try moving the curved part in a more angle position and let us know how it goes.
-S
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Author: Matt Locker
Date: 2002-10-30 16:09
Sylvain:
Thanks for the thoughts. I've found that the curved part (the "thumb hook") doesn't stay in one place. How do you keep it fixed in its position?
Matt
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Author: Matt Locker
Date: 2002-10-31 18:23
>>Thanks for the thoughts. I've found that the curved part (the "thumb hook") doesn't >>stay in one place. How do you keep it fixed in its position?
Sylvain:
Let me clarify this. I see the only real adjustment on the Etude to be vertical. The baseplate slides up/down, and then the "thumb hook" can be adjusted up/down as well using a pair of set screws above/below the thumb hook. I've found that the thumb hook also seems to have a rotation around it's mounting axis. I've played with that a bit but have found that it doesn't seem to hold that adjustment. It just rotates back into the outermost position. So I don't really consider that an adjustment. Am I missing something? Is there another adjustment that I'm not aware of.
Thanks,
Matt
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Author: Sylvain
Date: 2002-11-01 02:30
If I tighten the screws enough my "hook" is not moving.
However, I would not recommend tightening too hard this thing looks pretty delicate.
Maybe my hand position is just naturally more angled and I don't have your problem. Let me try to give you an idea of my posture. My elbows are not touching my torso but they are not very far out. My wrist is straight, not bent and the "meaty" part (or "fingerprint" )of my thumb is pushing up on the clarinet. The hook is then lying right on the second part of my thumb and it's at the closest angle. Also, the hook is set at a (very) low position relative to the thumbrest.
To make the hook remain at the same angle you can try to put some fabric in between the hook and the screws so you can tighten them without breaking anything.
Let me know how it goes,
-Sylvain
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