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Re: Clarinet tumb rest?

Author: Chris P
Date: 2023-02-08 01:33

One thing that's very much overlooked is how the right arm is supported - it's often never supported at all as most chairs don't have arm rests and that will make a ton of difference once the right elbow or forearm has some support as well as the instrument being supported.

I originally bought the FHRED for an elderly clarinettist recovering from a fractured right shoulder and who also had trouble with their elbow and wrist - the FHRED did wonders to support her clarinet but her right arm still wasn't comfortable.

I got her to sit in a chair with armrests and also built up the right armrest with whatever I could find in the bandroom (cardboard boxes, gaffer tape and foam) just to raise her elbow up to a better and more comfortable angle as well as fully supporting it to keep the weight off her shoulder. That did the trick and gave her several years more of playing which she thought she wouldn't get as she was that close to packing up.

While it will do nothing for mobility if you like to move around loads whilst playing, it will at least fully support and relieve the weight off your right arm and that isn't a bad thing. If you only have access to regular chairs without armrests and there's enough room, then see if using another chair placed with its back directly against your right side will act as an armrest if it's of the right height. Or improvise if that's not possible - borrow a tenor sax case or something of a similar height to use as an armrest and if it's too low, place your oboe case on top or a folded towel.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.

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