[milandro]

I have seen and posted in the past the training tools which are apparently designed to train your fingers for speed and strength .

They exist in various configurations of fingers and some also can be set up for hand's span

I am not really convinced they work (these or anything else featured here!) but they are out there and sometime people feel they could do something to exercise one or more fingers while they can't play if they feel they lack dexterity or strength.

I has never seen a tool ( proper torture) designed to actually stretch the width of your fingers but here it is! It is advertised for both Spanish Guitar and Saxophone!

The second one is to train all your fingers (also the thumbs!), the third one is also a finger trainer and the fourth is to train your embouchure muscles (?)

 

[turf3]

Buncha nonsnse.

Read up on what happened to Robert Schumann, trying to increase his hand span.

 

[milandro]

This isn't a joke ( I would forgive you for thinking that!)

this is the aurus trainers featured above in the first post

 

[turf3]

I don't think any device can be a better embouchure trainer than a saxophone mouthpiece with reed attached to a saxophone.

Think of famous players with "chops like iron" (not just saxophone): Coltrane, Louis Armstrong, Roy Eldridge, Mike Brecker, Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, Charlie Parker, Urbie Green, Conrad Gozzo. How many of them do you think built up their chops with doohickeys, and how many of them do you think just put in the hours on the horn?

 

[milandro]

I don’t think that any of these devices works, I am not endorsing any of this, I just find it a curiosity , that’s it, it is pretty evident from what I wrote in the title ( I thought) and further

 

[bandmommy]

All are only ways to lighten the wallets of those looking for chops in a box.
A bunch of expensive bullpoopy...

 

[Reet McVouty]

These items are for those people looking for the do it yourself "cheap" way out. Rather than taking lessons and putting the time in practicing they resort to gimmickry. Eventually they will give up because fundamentally they have gotten nowhere. Although, maybe one of those hand trainers might help my arthritis ...

 

[datsaxman]

Finger/hand trainers have their place. It may not be relevant here, though.
Sometimes we cannot tell by just looking what works and what does not.

The Aurus looks like it trains the player to do the wrong things.

 

[JimD]

This isn't a joke ( I would forgive you for thinking that!)

View attachment 5046

this is the aurus trainers featured above in the first post

I once got something like this in a Christmas cracker.

 

[saxtek]

I have always been fascinated by saxophone "gimmicks." I have collected quite a few when they are relatively low in cost. I usually buy them used, or at blowout prices. I prefer older gimmicks because they are more likely to disappear.
That being said, I seldom actually use the gimmicks I own. I have dozens of odd ligatures, but I still use traditional 2 screw ligatures or the original ligature that came with Link STM mouthpieces.
There are a few gimmicks that I consider an insult to my intelligence, and I would own them only If I get them for free. The Aurus 7 falls into that category, as does the Klangbogen. I wouldn't be caught dead with these items on my horn.
Most gimmicks exist mainly for one reason, they are relatively cheap and easy to produce, compared to a good horn or mouthpiece. Their profitability depends mostly on how extensively they are inevitably promoted.

 

[lostcircuits]

OMG, those are nice! Reminds me of my ex girlfriend, she was from Russia and gave me a garage door opener remote for Christmas because it was pink. And a 100% polyester sweater that gave me hives when I only looked at it. But it was ok, she told me she had found it at Goodwill.

 

[skeller047]

I have one of those "finger strengthener" devices, which I bought because I was having hand cramp issues (brought on by spending too much time surfing the web, which is actually part of my $DAYJOB - though this site doesn't help). It helped with that. No effect, good or bad, on my saxophonistic skill set.

 

[milandro]

I have always been fascinated by saxophone "gimmicks."....

which is really the main reason why I opened this thread, not so much discussing the merits or demerits ( the latter more than the former) but just for the sheer fun of showing what people come up with ( anyone is more than welcome to contribute).

Years ago ( before internet) I used to be fascinated by magazines (often found in airplanes) with gadgets that you could order . I didn't even have to have them, I just liked to look at them and have a laugh. ?

 

[adamk]

Robert Schumann made a finger stretcher and ruined his hand.

 

[theneighbordubh]

I have baoding balls because they're fun to fidget with when they aren't driving anyone within a ten foot radius completely nuts.

 

[Hassles]

I have used those hand springs (2nd image above) to very very good effect back in my martial arts daze. Sure I developed an iron grip and if I took a hold of you that was essentially that but.....it did little for my dexterity or subtle finger movements. I took a lot of piano playing to restore those fine motor skills. As for the Baoding balls mentioned above aka Tai Chi Balls - personally I think these are excellent but can cause hand fatigue if initially over done.

 

[Lambros]

Unfortunately, these devices have a notorious history. In Schumann's case, this ruined his career as a soloist.

Weird Classical: When Schumann Ruined His Fingers — and His Concert Career | WQXR Editorial | WQXR

Robert Schumann was determined to be the finest concert pianist in the world. But his fingers just wouldn't cooperate.

www.wqxr.org

 

[Hassles]

Muscle stretching is one thing - attempting to stretch joints is foolhardy. Plenty of sensational pianists with small hands.

 

[saxtek]

One of my favorite gimmicks is this ligature/reedguard combo. I have three of them, an alto, a tenor, and a damaged one that I converted for use on a metal tenor mouthpiece. They are actually not that rare, considering they were probably sold in the 1920s.

 

[milandro]

Saxtek, you have perfectly caught the spirit of this thread, I’ve modified the title to include other gadgets, even if not for training purpose, it isn’t in fact a serious thread on the effectiveness of any gadget but a celebration of the fact that these things are so outlandish and oddballs and someone put them on the market.

There is no intention to promote them or even remotely analyze merits or de-merits , just sheer fun.