Klarinet Archive - Posting 000017.txt from 1992/10

From: "(James Langdell)" <James.Langdell@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Teaching advice/over the break
Date: Mon, 26 Oct 1992 21:00:00 -0500

The players may experience a lot more freedom in right hand
position by adding an inexpensive slip-on rubber and foam pad
to the thumb rest. Once there's a less painful point to pivot
from, experiment moving the right hand to see how many positions
it could be in while still remaining in contact with the
holes. You might also try experimenting by bracing the bell against
a leg so you can play without the right hand contacting the
thumb rest at all.

In practicing closing holes more consistently with the
finger pads, I'd recommend occasionally pressing down
firmly on the holes to get a strong sense of the finger
pad sealing the opening. Then, while blowing a note,
change the pressure of an indidividual finger back and
forth between too tense a grip and too light to seal the
hole successfully. Flowing between those extremes, your
fingers will find a more appropriate balance.

Also, here's a way to help fingering when practicing going between
note pairs. While holding the first note take mental inventory of
each finger, whether it will raise, lower, or remain stable in the midst
of other finger action. The simultaneous and varied finger tasks we do
all the time are NOT trivial.

--James Langdell jamesc@-----.com
Sun Microsystems Mountain View, Calif.
408-298-9351
Re: Teaching advice/over the break