Klarinet Archive - Posting 000962.txt from 1998/11

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Flat fingers and tension
Date: Wed, 25 Nov 1998 11:55:59 -0500

There has been some confusion regarding my inital post regarding a
straight third finger approach to beginners which has, unfortunately, gone
on to become "flat" fingers! Part of the problem was that I was listing
the straight third fingers as an example of what I do without much
explanation beyond that description. Tony Pay is now doubling over with
laughter I am sure - for this post confirms his earlier!

Specificaly - I advise students to check their hand postion by anchoring
their third fingers and looking down - are the third fingers nearly
straight or straight? (notice that I don't use the word flat or the word
tense) Are the fingers of the left hand over the Ab key and of the right
hand near or over the 1st trill key?

I do not advocate tension, nor do I expect the third fingers to be
absolutely straight (to be checked with a metal 6 inch rule) - I simply
want the fingers to be at an angle in which these particular fingers are
more straight than the others. A simple check of my students in the
studio will reveal that they do not have tension in the third fingers of
the right or left hands (right Rachel???).

Roger Garrett
Illinois Wesleyan University

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