Author: vboboe
Date: 2007-10-06 07:45
<<Now I notice that my fingers get stiff after playing and my right wrist aches>>
I experimented a bit with holding the oboe most comfortably in right hand and discovered the thumb-rest was set up too high (about 5mm) for my best comfort and fingering manageability, so i folded up a wad of paper just the extra thickness i needed to lower the contact position, and used black tape to strap it all together and it looks fairly esthetic
The thumb-rest was already extra-wide, but the paper wad has increased the width as well by another 4-5mm so weight's better distributed towards inside thumb rather than just the nail and joint side = no wrist or thumb ache for me any more
Also, the smooth tape doesn't present as much friction as cork, so can now slide thumb back and forth a bit under the taped & padded thumb-rest to accomodate slight adjustments of wrist when reaching for pinky keys, doing forked F's, palming or rocking the right Ab, etc.
My fingers are often stiff before playing, i find massaging palms and rotating fingers at the knuckle joints first helps loosen them up, especially now the cold wet weather's arrived
If the thumb-rest's too low for your best comfort, maybe your local repair guy can simply turn it over or reposition it
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