Klarinet Archive - Posting 000067.txt from 1998/01

From: Dee Hays <deerich@-----.net>
Subj: Re: rapid fingering help!!
Date: Sat, 3 Jan 1998 11:01:49 -0500

benevolent1@-----.com wrote:

> One thing that I have done when I get a piece of music that seems way too
> difficult is to "visualize" myself playing the piece. I just hold the
> clarinet in my hands, I don't finger or blow, I just try to hear the
> music slowly at first, and then a little faster. It helps YOU to believe
> that you can do it. I think some of the problem at times is that we
> defeat ourselves when we see a bunch of black things extraordinarily
> close together.

Visualization has proven to be a valuable technique in almost any field of
endeavor. Not only visualize yourself playing it, visualize (or in this case
"audiolize") yourself playing it perfectly and beautifully.

> (I know that some of my suggestions are rather elementary, but
> sometimes I forget to do the simple things).

Very good suggestion as we all forget that sometimes the best thing is to
revisit the basics.

> P.S. I've been under strict orders since December 13 not to play my
> clarinet at all due to a bout with pneumonia. He is letting me practice
> a little now, so I was wondering if anyone had some short pieces that I
> could be working on that are still challenging. I am getting very
> frustrated that I cannot go through any of my concertos because I am in
> pain by the end. Even a movement of some works is physically trying.
> Hopefully, I'll be able to play longer stretches as the week and month
> progresses, but I don't want to push things too far too fast. Thank you
> very much.

Instead of picking an entire movement, just pick one cohesive section of that
movement. Try the Brahms sonatas (or sections of them) or other sonatas. In
general these tend to be a bit shorter.

Hope you recover quickly,

Dee Hays
deerich@-----.net
Canton, SD