Klarinet Archive - Posting 000507.txt from 1997/10

From: Suzanne Little <s349929@-----.au>
Subj: Re: Left-Handedness
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 1997 21:57:15 -0400

Sorry about dragging up a very old (but only briefly addressed)
issue but being left-handed myself, I felt like adding my 2c. Firstly I
have never had any problems with the orientation of the hands while
playing the clarinet, flute or recorders, in fact left hand on top, right
on bottom feels perfectly natural to me. The only problems I have had with
the weight of the clarinet are happening now as the result of a previously
broken, sadly abused, right wrist.
Interesting side point. Right-handed people are considered to be
so as a result of a stronger *left* side of the brain while lefties are
thought to be stronger in the *right* side. The exact reasons for
left-handedness are unclear but a few theories have been proposed. (1) an
injury occurs to the left hemisphere causing a shift in mental function to
the right resulting in un-natural left-handers, or (2) lefties that are
naturally stronger in either the right hemisphere or both. Okay so what
could this mean musically? Well it is believed that musical ability,
aptitude or talent is connected to the right side of the brain meaning
that essentially playing music is a left-handed pursuit. I don't know how
true this all is or how it would relate to the more (in some ways)
mathematical side of theory which is related to the left side of the
brain but it's interesting to read up and ponder when you've nothing else
to do. Okay enough from me, after all I am a left-handed scientist who
also plays the clarinet, so I totally confuse the issue.
Suzanne.