Klarinet Archive - Posting 000960.txt from 1998/11

From: CmdrHerel@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Flat fingers and tension
Date: Wed, 25 Nov 1998 11:36:21 -0500

I'd like to point out that to everything there is an exception. So if we
decide that physically, lightly arced fingers are more ergonomic than flat
ones, there will ALWAYS be someone from history or present who plays like a
madman with flat fingers, his teeth on the reed and a slumped back.

So the argument that Joe Flat is truly AMAZING with flat fingers, does not
support that it's fine to play with flat third fingers.

As a teaching technique, although I would not use it, I do understand how you
are using the flat third finger to set hand position. I myself use some other
"bad" habits to teach kids how to move their fingers correctly and to teach
hand position.

One that I use is to lift the fingers HIGHER than necessary in order to get
them to lift correctly (from the back knuckle and not the middle). Without
exaggerated motion, we can't always tell if it's moving the right way.
Reducing the height of the motion later on after the finger's moving correctly
has always been easy.

In lines with the "flat third finger" I do sometimes have students keep a
pinky lightly on the low E keys during some exercises to help hold the hand
position in place. Not for long, though, as a student can pick up the habit
of anchoring the pinky on that key and using it as a pivot point for hand
motion.

But teaching a flat finger to arc later on *can* be very difficult.
Especially the weak ones: Ring and pinky. The little "things" that hold the
arc are very weak in those fingers and encouraging a flat finger will not let
them get stronger. (I myself spent six months on one dang pinky that I could
not get to arc and I won't even TELL you how I solved it! )

My reason for arced fingers? When you hold your hand loosly at your side,
your fingers arc. They don't flatten out. In order to flatten them, you have
to tense them. And I avoid ANY and ALL extra tension in the hands no matter
how minuscule. Some tensions can't be avoided, but flattened fingers
certainly can.

Remember, just because some can play beautifully with no tension or problem
with flat fingers, does not support that this is a valid technique. As a
surivivor of hand problems, I am a supporter of using the safest, least tense
methods of hand motion for all my students. I feel there are much better ways
to teach hand position than with flattened third fingers.

Teri Herel.

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