Klarinet Archive - Posting 000501.txt from 1998/07

From: <CEField@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Sliver or side (Was: remove Eb/Bb key L.H)
Date: Sat, 18 Jul 1998 13:20:48 -0400

In a message dated 7/18/98 12:51:18 PM, you wrote:

<<I think the slivers are often thought of as harder, merely because they are
taught later or used less, and therefore are less familiar to the fingers.>>

I'll throw in my two-cents. In elementary school, my "clarinet" teacher was
actually a violinist and itinerant music teacher. I was taught to use the
sliver key ONLY (we never progressed to alternatives). I have used the sliver
key predominantly ever since. On my own, I have learned to use the Bb trill
key or the two index finger option whenever it is necessary to make smooth or
rapid transitions between notes. However, there have been times that I played
next to professional clarinetists and I played passages MORE SMOOTHLY than
they did. I believe it was because of the sliver key. Once we were playing
Mozart -- maybe a version of "Eine Kleine Nachmusik" for concert band. During
practice sessions, it is easy to figure out which fingering works best for a
particular passage and use that one. I sometimes have to make a pencil
notation to remind myself, though. Don't get old...

Cindy

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