Some opinions needed-

[ann reid]

I’m giving an instrument a trial-before-purchasing, and I’ve been positively impressed with it. I find myself getting a little more out of it every time I do my daily practicing.

I have a question though. For a few specifically ergonomic reasons, I’ve found that I need to put my left foot on an elevated footrest to hold the instrument with minimum tension in my arms, hands, and fingers/thumb.

Using the footrest, the instrument is balanced comfortably on my lap. Would my footrest fall into the same category as a tuba or baritone sax rest, or other kinds of assists I see other musicians using?

I’m not as concerned about the appearance as I am about making a bad habit.

Thanks for your input.

[dsurkin]

[snip] I have a question though. For a few specifically ergonomic reasons, I’ve found that I need to put my left foot on an elevated footrest to hold the instrument with minimum tension in my arms, hands, and fingers/thumb.

Using the footrest, the instrument is balanced comfortably on my lap. Would my footrest fall into the same category as a tuba or baritone sax rest, or other kinds of assists I see other musicians using? [snip]

Many euphonium players use a small pillow on their laps, to raise the height of the instrument. I use one made by QHR, which looks quite professional - it included foam inserts of different thicknesses to adjust the height.

The only problem I'd see with a footrest is whether playing with one raised leg affects your posture, which in turn would affect your airflow.

[RickF]

I agree with 'dsurkin' using a small pillow. I've used one for years on my left hip to elevate the horn some. I found a small (9" x 5") felt bag with drawstring closure and partially filled it with the polyester pillow stuffing. Then tighten the string and stuff that into the small opening. It can be adjusted easily as it compresses. When I put my horn away in its case I just put the pillow in its bell.

[mbrooke]

I’m giving an instrument a trial-before-purchasing, and I’ve been positively impressed with it. I find myself getting a little more out of it every time I do my daily practicing.

I have a question though. For a few specifically ergonomic reasons, I’ve found that I need to put my left foot on an elevated footrest to hold the instrument with minimum tension in my arms, hands, and fingers/thumb.

Using the footrest, the instrument is balanced comfortably on my lap. Would my footrest fall into the same category as a tuba or baritone sax rest, or other kinds of assists I see other musicians using?

I’m not as concerned about the appearance as I am about making a bad habit.

Thanks for your input.

This works very well.

http://stores.quickhornrinse.com/lpt...onium-lap-pad/

Mike

[daruby]

I prefer to NOT use a lap pad or pillow. I use a "guitar foot rest" under my left foot at my home studio. I often prop my left foot up on the leg of a chair by raising my heel against thee left front chair leg. I have tried many other solutions including a Dee Stewart peg and others. In the end, a foot rest worked best for me.

I think that whatever works for you is fine.

[enhite]

While visiting the Quick Horn Rinse website to look at their lap pillow, you might also take a look at the euphonium hand strap. Many of us like this option. A similar hand strap is also available from http://comfyhornstrap.blogspot.com/

[John Morgan]

Well, I don't use any foot rest or lap pillow with the euphonium, although I admit when I play guitar (in a guitar flute duet), I do use a footrest. For the euphonium, I just simply like it so much, that I pick it up and grab it (hold it) without resting it on anything. I do a lot of my practicing standing up, so not much use of a footrest or lap pillow for that scenario. Guess I just grew up without one and never decided to get one. I do not slouch over and let my euphonium sit on my left leg, I hold it. I sometimes do the method described by "daruby" with the left heel against the front chair leg. But not too often. Maybe when I get old, things will change. Is going on 72 old?

[ghmerrill]

Is going on 72 old?

No. But 72 is old. You'll see.

(Although now that I got my back fixed, I really feel no older than ... well ... maybe 65. It's just the comorbidities that get you at an accelerating rate. They circle you like a pack of wolves, and as you fend off some of them, others sneak up behind and attack. Also, you do end up paying for your sins -- and your fun -- at some point. )

[ann reid]

Thanks for your replies! The problem isn’t the instrument height. It’s the way it’s out of balance in my lap.

Since I’m probably the oldest here I can’t discount the creaky joints factor either. Then there’s going from a four pound horn to one that’s almost 10.

I’ve begun to enjoy it more every time I’ve played it, and played it a couple times for a solid 1 1/2 hours, so that’s definitely a strong point in its favor.

I also attempt to sit tall, away from the back of the chair when I play, and I can’t notice any problems with my breathing.

Still hoping it may be a keeper.

[John Morgan]

No. But 72 is old. You'll see.

(Although now that I got my back fixed, I really feel no older than ... well ... maybe 65. It's just the comorbidities that get you at an accelerating rate. They circle you like a pack of wolves, and as you fend off some of them, others sneak up behind and attack. Also, you do end up paying for your sins -- and your fun -- at some point. )

That's funny. And probably unfortunately, true.... Alas.... I am clearly paying for my sins regarding smoking like a chimney for so many years I would need 2 1/2 times the number of fingers and toes I currently have (and last time I checked, I had the normal compliment) to count the smoking years. But so far, I can still play pretty okay, much to my total disbelief. I do practice enough to keep Linda in a perpetual state of something not normal.

[dsurkin]

[snip]I do practice enough to keep Linda in a perpetual state of something not normal.

John - just looking at your list of instruments, to keep them warm requires a practice schedule of several hours a day!

[John Morgan]

John - just looking at your list of instruments, to keep them warm requires a practice schedule of several hours a day!

Quite right you are, Dean!! The tuba sits most of the time (brass quintet/ensemble 2 or 3 times a year), but both trombones get used for two different year round symphony orchestras, and the Adams E3 mostly for the two concert bands. I do play the Wessex on occasion, and the B&H Imperial is currently at Lee Stofer's in Iowa getting put into sort of like new condition (was already pretty darn nice, just a few things to make it even nicer). Don't expect to see it until forever, but maybe not quite that long.

I spend about 80% of my time on the Adam E3. I suffer from instrumentitis, an incurable disease caused by not knowing when to employ any kind of sense about limiting the number of instruments one owns.

By the way, my list of instruments is not all inclusive. Add to that a Yamaha Disklavier, a Taylor 912e guitar, a Kala ukulele (to satisfy my nagging urge to move to Hawaii, which we once almost did), a couple of nice recorders, a harmonica, a pBone trombone (useful various times of the year), and maybe more, that is all I can think of at the moment.

But I like the quandary of figuring out how to spend time with all of my instruments.

Dean, you too, seem to have a handful of instruments as well. Life is good!!