Klarinet Archive - Posting 000252.txt from 1997/07

From: Jacqueline Eastwood <eastwooj@-----.EDU>
Subj: RE:technique and clarinetfest
Date: Tue, 8 Jul 1997 19:27:42 -0400

On Tue, 8 Jul 1997, Nicholas Yuk Sing Yip wrote:

> Hello again! I am having a major fingering problem with my pinkies.
> They just have a mind of its own and just do not want to curve along with
> the rest of my fingers. I tried to forcefully curve them by having them
> wrapped around a small swab something, such as paper, however with my
> curved pinkies I tried to push down the B or C# keys and some other
> finger( in particularly the ring fingers) wants to fly up or my pinkies
> would uncurve. What else can I do? I do not remember seeing this in the
> sneezy/ocr, however I might have missed it. By the way it was a helpful
> page, overall.
> Out of curiosity, what is special about silver plated keys compared to
> the ones we use? Unfortunately I will be in summer school this year and
> will be unable to attend Lubbock, however, I would like to keep up with
> the events, Will there be updates on the web? Where will the next
> clarinetfest be held? If you do not know, I will find out in the
> magazine.Thanks!
> nyip@-----.edu
>
I too sometimes have a problem with my pinkies -- the joints tend to "lock
up" after I've been playing for a long time and do not want to work
independently. Relaxation helps a lot. Keep in mind that, anatomically,
the ring finger and the pinky are connected by a (ligament?) -- yes, work
for some independence of movement, but it's never going to be physically
as easy to trill with finger four as it is with fingers two and three.
Robert Schumann, in an effort to improve his piano technique, devised an
invention that was supposed to help with independence of the ring finger
and pinky; he ended up crippling himself and ruined any possibility of a
career as a virtuoso pianist (at least, that's how I recall the story! I
didn't check New Grove or anything!) So my advice is to relax, work as
you can, but don't strain yourself and risk injury to try to achieve the
physically impossible.

Jacqueline Eastwood
University of Arizona/Arizona Opera Orchestra
eastwooj@-----.edu