 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: ThatPerfectReed
Date: 2011-06-10 18:23
Yep, you guessed it.
This post has to do with clarinet straps, and not just for "lads" but "lassies" too.
Are they a help or a hindrance, and if so, for which types of players?
Wait--I know..."how can I possibly make such a blanket statement either way!!"
I'm not. There are as many opinions as clarinetists--all worthy of expression. I'm not prepared to say much beyond, "you need a reed to make the clarinet work," which will no doubt lead one of you to show me a youtube video where this isn't true (LOL).
Take me. I'm in my late 40's and have some tendonitis in my right arm. The strap helps me enormously.
Take the basset horn. That thing gets heavy. No way would I judge anyone negatively for using one to play "the Mozart" on its originally intended instrument.
Still---at least the brand of strap I own frustrates me. Maybe some of you know of a better one, or better technique for me to use mine. You see, one method of attaching the strap to the clarinet involves the use of a...I'll call it a "Marching Band Music Stand Liar" type device, that slightly messes with the connection between the top and bottom halves of the instrument. I've thought about having the existing steel band at the top of the bottom piece of the instrument professionally removed in place of this device, but haven't.
Alternatively, there's a method of connecting it to the thumb rest, but it feels funny for the ox-load bearing right thumb, and it doesn't offset the strap enough from the instrument for my left hand's comfort. Maybe Kal (Opperman) is yelling down at me, "that's because you keep your dang left hand to freakin far away from the instrument!!"
So--lets hear all things straps. Should starting players use them, or definitely not? Does in depend, and if so, on what? Which manufacturer's ones do people like? Have people had success removing the lower half of the clarinet's top steel ring in place of the straps "Liar like attachment?"
Should "strappers" be shot? (LOL) Should non strappers stop trying to be such heros and realize that the right hand's finger will relax more if their thumb bears less of the load.
Or should I be strung up by my strap for asking (wink)?
Thanks in advance fellow clarinetists, one and all.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: cigleris
Date: 2011-06-10 20:22
Can I ask? Why would you use a strap for, what I presumme is the modern Basset horn? They usually have spikes. I can understand the need on a period basset horn and indeed one or two use them.
Peter Cigleris
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Buster
Date: 2011-06-10 20:47
yeah be careful with your terminology .... if you mean the Mozart Concerto 622, or Quintet K 581 it's a basset clarinet
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: concertmaster3
Date: 2011-06-10 21:11
Using a neckstrap shouldn't hinder your playing at all. I have been using straps for oboe, English horn and clarinet for years. I stopped playing with one for a while when I lost the leather piece that goes on the back if you don't have a ring for it, but bought a new one so I would have less arm/thumb pain. My previous and future teachers never saw a problem with it, and the oboe is much lighter than the clarinet. I currently use the strap (BG brand) with the Ridenour thumb saddle, which also helped relieve some of the pain (I now have 3 thumb saddles...one for oboe, and 2 for my Bb and A clarinets). What kind of strap are you using that's hindering you from playing? and can you show us a picture of the back of the clarinet where it's strapping onto.
Another option (one that my repair tech uses, who's primarily an oboist) is the Kooiman thumb rests. She prefers the Etude models. You might want to look into that as well.
Ron Ford
Woodwind Specialist
Performer/Teacher/Arranger
http://www.RonFordMusic.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: gsurosey
Date: 2011-06-10 22:24
I used to use a neck strap. My teacher suggested I ditch it because my left hand position was wacky when I used it. I got rid of the strap and my left hand got better. I do wear a support glove on my right hand. Every time I wonder whether or not it helps, I try a practice session without it and notice within 5 minutes that it really does help.
----------
Rachel
Clarinet Stash:
Bb/A: Buffet R13
Eb: Bundy
Bass: Royal Global Max
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-06-11 13:02
Far better than a strap (or sling) is a Quodlibet Fhred as they take the weight off the right hand and arm completely and also allow for good playing posture and instrument position. They can be used for playing while standing if you get the belt attachment or improvise something similar.
Slings are only really useful for instruments with a curved crook as they do have the tendency to make instruments drop downwards, so they're ideal on curved sopranos and alto through to bari saxes. On bass clarinets they work best with a double hook connected to both upper and lower joints, but you're best playing bass with a spike anyway or having a spike fitted if your bass hasn't got one.
On oboes and Bb/A clarinets they will make the instrument drop while on oboes and straight soprano saxes they can get in the way of the left thumb unless you play with your head down.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: gsurosey
Date: 2011-06-11 13:51
Chris P wrote:
> Far better than a strap (or sling) is a Quodlibet Fhred as they
> take the weight off the right hand and arm completely and also
> allow for good playing posture and instrument position. They
> can be used for playing while standing if you get the belt
> attachment or improvise something similar.
Do you have a picture or a link to a picture? I've never heard of this and am intrigued.
----------
Rachel
Clarinet Stash:
Bb/A: Buffet R13
Eb: Bundy
Bass: Royal Global Max
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ThatPerfectReed
Date: 2011-06-11 14:01
New, as you are Rachel, to Chris' suggestion of a Quodlibet Fhred, I found out more info at http://www.quodlibet.com/Index.php.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-06-11 14:46
Sorry - I should've added the link. http://www.quodlibet.com/Index.php
They will require a thumbrest with a ring hard soldered to it (north-south orientation) so they can be clipped on.
An oboe or cor anglais thumbrest will do, though a brass or nickel silver ring can always be formed from 2mm rod (annealed and bent around a mandrel to form a ring) and then hard soldered onto your existing thumbrest.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2011-06-11 14:51)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: gsurosey
Date: 2011-06-11 14:47
Thanks!
----------
Rachel
Clarinet Stash:
Bb/A: Buffet R13
Eb: Bundy
Bass: Royal Global Max
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2011-06-11 16:08
After 3-years with an elastic neck strap, I really can't play without it.
It has eliminated the right hand tendonitis caused by clarinet support (and computer mousing). I could not hold the clarinet for a half hour's playing, and had forearm and wrist pain when NOT practicing.
One clarinet prof in Texas REQUIRES all of his entering students to give a neck strap a fair trial --but does not require that they stick with it.
If your a tough guy with the physiognomy that lets you play damage-free without a strap, that's great. For the rest of us, it is the enabler.
Bob Phillips
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Clarimeister
Date: 2011-06-11 19:32
What I actually ended doing to my Bb is have the existing stock buffet thumb rest moved up higher on the clarinet by my tech in LA. This has done WONDERS for me and no longer need a neckstrap because my thumb is in the natural position. It only took about a day or two to get used to, but I feel my technique has even improved from this modification. I'm probably going to have this done on my A and even my Eb in the coming weeks!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Buster
Date: 2011-06-11 19:58
Clarimeister,
You hit on a point addressing something I have always thought, and wondered why was never addressed when manufacturers started putting adjustable thumb-rests on their clarinets. The "new" thumb-rest was located in more or less the same position as older clarinets, and only adjustable downwards. Well, speaking for myself, I have never felt like I needed to move the rest downward at all (and most everybody I met felt the same.)
Why wouldn't the makers position the thumb-rest appreciably higher on the joint, and then allow it to adjust downwards from there? -Would have made a lot more sense to me, but what the hell do I know. I just play the dumb thing. (Newer fancy clarinets may have addressed this issue, but I have not tried them personally.)
I moved my rests up so my thumb is more or less directly opposed to my index finger. Worked for me, may not for some.
As for straps- that is a highly personal issue and I really don't think there is a right or wrong answer. As long as it doesn't hinder any necessary movements, then Gods-speed my friends!
I'm watching the Cleveland-Yankees game and I curse thee all N.Y. fans. (Looking at the quotes below I love Yogi the man, not Yogi the Yankee.)
-JH
Post Edited (2011-06-11 20:00)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-06-11 20:25
The reason why Buffet thumbrests aren't placed higher up the joint is because the screw holes (and recess for the locking screw tip) are still being drilled in the old position for fixed thumbrests - someone hasn't changed the location of them on the CNC machine prgramme and it shouldn't take much for them to do that to place them and the baseplate around 8-10mm higher up the joint so allowing for adjustment.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Buster
Date: 2011-06-11 20:30
Chris you're exactly right... it shouldn't take much for them to do it. but alas they still haven't (to my knowledge.)
-JH
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarnibass
Date: 2011-06-12 05:33
>> I'm not prepared to say much beyond, "you need a reed to make the clarinet work," which will no doubt lead one of you to show me a youtube video where this isn't true <<
No video but yes, some things are more difficult or impossible to do with the reed (or the mouthpiece).
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-06-12 13:02
The worst sling I've ever used was the elastic one for cor anglais. I ended up changing the cord for a non-stretchy one.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
