Klarinet Archive - Posting 000251.txt from 1997/10

From: "L. BORCHERT" <lborcher@-----.Edu>
Subj: Re: Crossing ankles
Date: Wed, 8 Oct 1997 19:29:50 -0400

Cheryl,
Have your student play some of the lesson time standing up. When
she sits down, does she sound any different? If so, her breathing
mechanism is being hampered by her posture.
For long rehearsals or extended practice session, I too sometimes
cross my ankles and rest my bell lightly on my thighs. This is mainly
to relieve the pressure on my RH thumb. However, I make sure my back is
still upright and not collapsed as to undermine my breath support
mechanism.
Also, the pitches that are produced out the bell e/b1 and, to some
extent, f/c1 can be hampered acoustically by the muffling (is that an
adjective?) of the legs or clothes.

Happy Teaching,

Laroy

Dr. Laroy Borchert
Professor of Clarinet
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, NM 88003

On 8 Oct 1997 cpasewark@-----.com wrote:

> I have a new student who is very petite and finds that the easiest way
> for her to support the clarinet is to cross her ankles, slide her feet
> back so that they are underneath her and rest the instrument on the
> inside of her thighs. My reaction was to try to get her to change this,
> but I have to admit--I like to cross my ankles and slide them back when
> playing (I fight against this), and I'm interested in others' comments.
>
> This student also likes to chew gum while playing (an easier issue to
> change!) and in addition to the danger of it ruining her reed, I would
> think it would hinder her tonguing as well. Again, any responses?
>
> Cheryl Pasewark
>
>