 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clariniano
Date: 2009-06-24 20:25
The last few weeks I have been working on a number of pieces with fast turn like passages, (eg: Mozart Larghetto from the Clarinet quintet) and I've been noticig that after about 3-4 repetitins there is major tension in my right hand, which occurs on the Bb but mostly when I play the A clarinet. I won't be about to see a teacher until after the first or second week of July, though a clarinet friend has advised that I have it checked out at a performing arts clinic. I've never had problems on my Bb before, but am thinking about getting adjustable thumbrests on both the Bb and A as I will be doing a lot more playing starting in July) Playing it slowly is not too difficult, it's playing fast that causes problems, and I don't have those kinds of problems on other types of passages.
However, my piano skills have advanced a lot in the past year (I play piano to a solid Royal Conservatory of Music Grade 8 level), and there is the possibility of some of the piano pieces I'm doing causing some of the difficulties?
Anyone have ideas, I'm playing one of them for a summer concert in mid July, and others I'm doing in exams for August.
Meri
Please check out my website at: http://donmillsmusicstudio.weebly.com and my blog at: http://clariniano.wordpress.com
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-06-24 20:38
It could be any number of reasons. Could be from the piano playing reflecting on your hand, could be because the A clarinet is a bit heavier and your fingers are slightly more spread out than on a Bb, or it could simply be that when you play a fast turn you tense up. An adjustable thumb rest might help if you're straining to reach the keys on the A. I lowered my thumb rests years ago so I didn't have to stretch my third finger RH and pinky so much, it did wonders. Many players do the opposite but I guess it depends on your finger size and hand position. Experiment. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: D
Date: 2009-06-24 21:11
I find that my A and Bb thumb rests need to be in different positions to allow me to cope with the size diff. You could try some experiments with blocks of wood or layers of thick rubber to figure out if you need to get the one on the A lower. Don't know how to figure out if you need it higher though.
Slightly off topic, on my tenor recorder I (for this read small irritating child who borrowed my instrument and didn't confess to vandalism) broke the thumb rest. I had a lot of playing coming up before getting chance to get a replacement and suddenly found I had no more right hand tension problems. I never did buy a replacement so the small child had one redeeaming feathure after all. Point of story though,.....it can make a great deal of difference where you put your thumb. From memory I think my Bb is as high as it will go and the A is as low......might be the other way round though.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2009-06-25 11:02
You need to go to a physical therapist who specializes in musicians' hand problems. I had the same type of problem and got nearly immediate relief from my therapist's recommendations for repositioning the thumb rest and adding an extension to a key-touch.
I'm sure there are therapists in Toronto. Get in touch with the wind players in the Toronto Symphony for recommendations.
Wonderful photo on your home page, by the way.
Ken Shaw
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Author: jnc8
Date: 2009-06-25 20:05
You might try getting a BG neck strap to take some of the weight off of your hands. It's possible you've been playing a little too much recently. When I was doing a recording session with my college band, I aggravated my hands so much because of playing so much I got tendinitis. I don't know if this is your case or not, but you might try searching online for exercises for tendinitis in the wrist/arm and see if they help, because they certainly helped me.
Good luck.
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