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Doublereed Archive - Posting 000039.txt from 2004/12
From: "Miriam Williams" <mwquacker@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [DR-L] Left thumb position on oboe
Date: Sat, 11 Dec 2004 19:00:31 -0500
In additon to the thumb 'resting' lightly, it may facilitate better action
when having to go to the third octave key.
My new oboe has a 3rd oct key, and there is one or 2 spots in Amahl where I
am having to practice making the jump from high E to C# to A (I may not be
recalling exactly) but, at least am having to learn something new to to with
my thumb! MUTS helps a lot in keeping the oboe steady and my L hand light.
Any other 3rd oct key tricks? I could use the advice.
3 Messiahs down, 1 to go!
Miriam
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rhondda May" <rmay@-----.com>
To: <doublereed@-----.org>
Sent: Saturday, December 11, 2004 5:19 AM
Subject: Re: [DR-L] Left thumb position on oboe
> Interestingly, my first teacher, a clarinetist, taught me to put my left
> thumb on the wood just under the octave key like you need to on the
> clarinet. Later I was told not to do that, and I've discovered that
> having the thumb rest gently on the wood, without any pressure, works
> best. The thumb is roughly at a 90 degree angle to the octave key.
>
> I would strongly advise against "holding" the left thumb anywhere on the
> wood/plastic!
> It should just rest, so that it takes the least possible effort to put it
> on the octave key and remove it. If you try to "hold" the oboe, pinching
> your left thumb and forefinger together, you will vastly impair your
> technique.
>
> There is nothing inherently wrong with letting one's thumb leave the wood,
> just only the chance that if it goes "out for coffee", it'll be gone when
> you need it.
>
> Rhondda
>
>
> On 11 Dec 04, at 5:10 AM, Lacy, Edwin wrote:
>
>>
>> <<<I am curious how other oboists position the left thumb while
>> playing.>>>
>>
>> The technique you described as the one you have been using sounds to me
>> like the most workable approach.
>>
>> Oboists who formerly played the clarinet often have less of a problem
>> with this. On the clarinet, one becomes accustomed to the technique of
>> operating the register key while keeping the thumb in place on the thumb
>> hole. A similar approach tends to work well on the oboe.
>>
>> I have heard John Mack say, "The thumb should always remain on the
>> wood." (I guess that could also be, "on the plastic.") And, I'm sure
>> he didn't mean moving from one place to another on the wood, but rather
>> remaining in the "clarinet-like" position I described above.
>>
>> There is one advantage to keeping the thumb completely off the oboe when
>> not using the octave key, and that is that students can't press down
>> hard with the fingers if the thumb isn't on the back of the instrument
>> to counterbalance that force. Thus, occasional playing in that way can
>> promote relaxation of the hand.
>>
>> In any event, I feel that the one technique that must be avoided is to
>> place the thumb somewhere on the wood, not necessarily near the octave
>> key, and then to pick it up and move it to the octave key when needed.
>> Unfortunately, this is the way many students learn to play, and it is a
>> very difficult habit to break.
>>
>> Ed Lacy
>> University of Evansville
>>
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>
>
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> For personal help: email doublereed-owner@-----.org
> Doublereed is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org
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