Klarinet Archive - Posting 000721.txt from 1995/05

From: Neil Leupold <Neil_Leupold@-----.COM>
Subj: Re- Ed Lacy
Date: Thu, 25 May 1995 14:31:55 -0400

ntouch Memo 05/25/95
Subject:Re: Ed Lacy 11:20 AM
Edwin Lacy wrote:

"And, the way we learn our instrument that well is by playing scales, arpeggios
and other technical studies, multiple times over a period of years. Bad news
for those who don't like to play scales!"

I guess it's only bad knews for those who _give in_ to their dislike for
playing scales. But there's a bright side to this as well. Once those scales
and studies have been engraved onto one's brain, it's like the Pac Bell Yellow
Pages: You just let your fingers do the walking. Like everything else related
to clarinet technique, the movement of the fingers is merely a conditioned
reflex. When that conditioning has been done thoroughly enough, it's almost as
if one need not think about the notes any more, but is allowed to concentrate
on proper breathing technique and using his/her ear to create _music_ (not just
sound). The eyes follow the notes on the page, but it becomes no longer
necessary to transmit conscious messages to the fingers about where to go.
They just do it. It requires tremendous mental and physical relaxation,
however, which is where well-defined and developed breathing technique comes
in...