Klarinet Archive - Posting 000561.txt from 1997/10

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: Left-Handedness
Date: Mon, 13 Oct 1997 23:02:06 -0400

At 11:57 AM 10/13/97 +1000, you wrote:
> 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.
>
For what it is worth, a disproportionate number of my customers (school
band directors) are left handed.

Bill Hausmann bhausman@-----.com
451 Old Orchard Drive http://www.concentric.net/~bhausman
Essexville, MI 48732 http://members.wbs.net/homepages/z/o/o/zoot14.html

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is too loud.