Klarinet Archive - Posting 000905.txt from 1998/11

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] THIRD FINGERS STRAIGHT?!?!?!?!
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1998 10:37:45 -0500

On Tue, 24 Nov 1998, Edwin V. Lacy wrote:
> So, you're the one who has been promoting the "third-fingers-straight"
> technique! ;-) I've been battling this for 50 years, and always wondered
> where it came from. This is heresy for me. My rule is, "All the fingers
> should be curved, on all the woodwind instruments, all the time."

Well - there is always the adasge, i before e except after c......etc.

It isn't the same for everyone! It is a general rule I follow.
Especially as a student gets older, the third finger becomes more curved
as the fingers grow. Make sense?

> Seriously, even recognizing the fact that every human hand is configured
> somewhat differently, don't we want all the fingers to operate with equal
> speed and flexibility? If so, then why would we want to have all of them
> curved *except* for the third ones?

The 3rd finger straight generalization is really to help set up the hand
properly for the left hand Ab/G# (LH) and the trill keys (RH). Many
students, young and old alike, bend the wrists (a definite no-no - and I
can argue that one all day!), hold the instrument up with the RH
forefinger beneath the first trill key, etc. etc. Once proper hand
position is established and good habits formed, no reason not to allow the
natural curves to work. Just as with the embouchure - many people STILL
teach the smile approach - but I don't - "round" approach, chin pointed,
upper lip working as hard or harder than the other muscles, and the
"dimple" muscles working to form the generally inward approach of the
embouchure and lips. But.....as Tony Pay has said, it is terribly
difficult to describe via typing/words. Much easier to demonstrate - I
would hope we wouldn't need to get too specific on the issue!

Roger Garrett
Illinois Wesleyan University

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