Pencils and ChopSticks

[Jerry Freedman]

Reinhardt apparently approved of the pencil exercise. I have done it on and off for years. Now, since I have to take some time off playing due to surgery I have some questions:

1) Did Reinhardt have any restrictions about who should or should not do it ( upstreamers vs downstreamers)

2) Did he recommend it daily, few times a week etc

What about ChopSticks? I have nothing but good things to say about the pencil exercise and Chopsticks seem to be an extension ( different wweights, more elaborate movement etc)

[zachman727]

The pencil exercise is meant to be done daily, along with buzzing and the Jaw Retention Drill. These three, when done correctly, are beneficial for all types, but you have to be careful to buzz correctly.

I would recommend not using anything heavier than a pencil. I am not sure of the source for this, but there is a story of someone who built the exercise up to use drumsticks, and it completely killed his chops, so, unless the experts here say otherwise, I would stick to pencils.

[AJCarter]

[jwilson46]

I like to use the wooden chop stick because of the smooth tapered end. Or you can cut the larger square end off to simulate the thickness of a pencil. You can cut off the opposite end to equal the the length of the pencil you normally use. It depends on which end you place between the lips. Personally I don't cut it at all and put the tapered end between the lips.

A pencil the size you use for Putt Putt golf is in the back of my mind but I don't remember if Reinhardt recommended a specific size. Should the pencil be sharpened somewhat or not (I don't think so)? Do you put the leaded end or eraser end (if it has one) between the lips? Do you need a round pencil or the typical hexagonal pencil? I went with the chop stick because I like sushi and it gives me more reason to eat it....lol.

Does anyone have a reason why a chop stick shouldn't be used?

John

[Doug Elliott]

Now that's funny...

John, I guess you don't know about the comercial product called Chop-sticks that is sold for doing that exercise.

I like your idea better.

I'll have my Trio of Daily Calisthenics with a side of Yellowtail and Unagi.

[zachman727]

My only reason to stick with pencils was to avoid overworking the muscles. Chopsticks that are similar in size to a pencil should be fine. The Encyclopedia says unsharpened, and that either end can be used. Since you can use the round eraser or the hexagonal end, shape shouldn't matter. I don't know anything about pencil size, but I have been using just a standard #2 pencil. A golf pencil seems like a good "beginner" routine, since it is lighter and shorter, so that the unused muscles are not strained.

AJCarter, that is exactly what I was talking about. The drumstick is longer and heavier, requiring more force, and the muscles build to a point where an embouchure formation is impossible.

[Jerry Freedman]

The exercises done with chopsticks (in manual that comes with them) are more than just holding the chopstick with your chops for x amount of time. There is a lot more to be done ( raising and lowering, moving the chopstick in circles etc).

[razeontherock]

While I've never seen the chopsticks nor their instructions, I do have a Warburton PETE. Those have been received well by the Rheinhardt guys, and someone else suggested if you found the right size button and threaded it, you could come up with the only resistance you can't get with a pencil

[jwilson46]