 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Henry
Date: 2004-03-19 16:07
Since I started private lessons about a year ago, I have made considerable progress. However, I'm just becoming aware of a problem that may well be caused by my arthritic left index finger. The upper joint is somewhat swollen and the top lid of the finger is slightly curved away from the thumb. As a result, when I properly close the E/B tone hole with this finger, it tends to touch the bottom of the throat A key and occasionally causes it to slightly open. This, of course, causes a sqeak when, say, going down from a high D to a high B. My question is: Could this be alleviated by bending the throat A key slightly to the right (looking from above), or by filing away some of the A key? The A key is so small that I wonder whether bending that key would be feasible. Also, bending that key may negatively affect other things. I assume that I'm not alone with problems like this, and I wonder whether any of you have any ideas how to cope with this (short of surgical procedures). By the way, the left index finger is not the only arthritic finger I have but it seems to be the most damaging one).
I'll be grateful for any suggestions!
Henry
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Author: ron b
Date: 2004-03-19 16:24
Techs are usually found at their benches bending keys *back* to where they belong, Henry 
If the bend you'd like done isn't too severe it should be no problem. I'd ask a tech to do this because of the possibility that it's not a 'bendable' metal - remote chance but it happens. Find a tech with a good reputation for working on woodwinds. Techs (good ones) have the tools and the experience to do this quickly and correctly and I doubt if they'd charge you for the favor. If you do it yourself and haven't done something like this before you run the risk of harming the key or the posts, or both. Whichever way you decide to go, I think it would be a great help. Playing should be fun, not a struggle. Anything you can do to make playing easier for yourself is the right thing to do.
- r![[cool]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/cool.gif) n b -
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-03-19 16:27
I don't see why it would be a problem to have the key bent. I wouldn't advise doing it yourself, but rather having a technician do the work for you. As long as you can still hit the A key and get it to open the correct distance (but that can be done with pad/cork thicknesses rather than key location).
Another possibility (albeit a much different one and probably more expensive) would be to have a plateau key installed on the F# tone hole. The index finger one. That way your finger won't travel that far down and it might avoid hitting the A key. Or you can manipulate that key further down the clarinet (closer to your middle finger). if you have a sax available, take a look at how those plateua keys are set up. The spots for your fingers might be slightly off-center but it still closes the key and does the job.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-03-19 16:30
Quote:
Anything you can do to make playing easier for yourself is the right thing to do. Which is the reason there are articulated G#'s and alternate Eb levers out there!
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Bob A
Date: 2004-03-19 17:00
Henry, I would check with your "Rhumy" MD to determine what kind of arthritis you suffer from and whether the swelling/curvature will incease. In short your original key adjustment may not be the last one you have to make and some key metals do not take kindly to many adjustments.
Been there, done that.
Bob A
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-03-19 17:47
I pretty much agree with Ron's, Alexi's, Bob A's suggestions, as I also have "arthuritis" in fingers and elsewhere, and try to adapt to an ever-changing "scene", and choice of horns which are more "comfortable" to me. I can still amaze [some] newbies with soprano technique, but have found "refuge" for my pleasurable playing in plateau key systems, on bass and alto cls. As they have said, find a friendly repairer, describe problems, and solicit/accept his/her's help. Music should be enjoyable and not too demanding! Best wishes. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2004-03-19 18:15
Henry -
The late oboist Josef Marx had rheumatoid arthritis that made his finger joints swell up to the size of golf balls. The repairman Carl Sawicki did extensive key modifications that let him continue to play. Carl is a wonderful bassoonist and a good guy, with a genius for keywork. He does mainly oboes and bassoons, but I'm sure he could do clarinet work, too, or at least refer you to someone who can.
http://www.uky.edu/~moses/bdrp.ref/suppliersS.htm
Good luck.
Ken Shaw
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Author: BobD
Date: 2004-03-19 21:58
Join us in the oldster crowd, Henry, I have a similar problem....different finger. The above suggestions are sound.....find a good tech. Nickel silver keys are not that difficult to bend.....if you know how....but if you've never done it don't bother. Considering the number of players who are coming back in their "golden years" this could be a whole new market for guys like Dave S. I've toyed with the idea of plateau keys too. Comfort yourself with the thought that they shoot horses at this stage.
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Author: Taxijazz
Date: 2004-03-20 15:05
I suffered a gunshot wound to my left hand, and the tendons were severed in my right hand when I crushed a coke bottle on someones face, and my fingers are all screwed up--So I can tell you that you can overcome this problem. Are you stuck with that one clarinet? I've found significant variation in the keys from one brand of clarinet to another--Especially with vintage instruments. And you have to ask yourself one question: After you bend the key will it be comfortable to play that way? Plus you said you had other problems. I have been dissatisfied with bending keys--found it much easier to try another clarinet, and now I have four of them that bother me in different ways so I can rotate and avoid a specific problem finger if it causes me too much distress.
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Author: Henry
Date: 2004-03-20 15:47
Thanks a lot for the encouraging input from all of you. I'll talk to my tech about it. I certainly wouldn't try to bend that small key myself! (Since it is a Leblanc LL, at least I don't have to worry about it being pot metal or something like that.) And, Taxijazz, you may be right that some other clarinet(s) would be better suited for my particular finger configuration. I haven't looked into that (yet). Also...I happen to love all other aspects of my LL!
Thanks again.
Henry
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Author: cujo
Date: 2004-03-21 01:13
Almost anything can be done to customize the clarinet so it can be easier to play.
I have seen a one handed saxophone made for someone who lost thier arm. If that can be possible im sure anything could work.
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Author: Henry
Date: 2004-03-21 18:43
While practicing today, I discovered that my "problem" may be more involved than originally stated. The arthritic finger certainly doesn't help but the position of my left hand may be slightly off-standard as well. I can see in a mirror that it is pointed slightly down toward the finger tips, which might be partly to blame. When my fingers come in closer to the horizontal, I have more clearance between my index finger and the throat A-key and it also seems to better align my middle and ring finger tips with the two lower tone holes. What IS the generally accepted hand position? I may have to relearn a few things!
(My main instrument is alto sax where incorrect hand positions may be more forgiving.)
Henry
Post Edited (2004-03-21 19:18)
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