Klarinet Archive - Posting 000638.txt from 1999/03

From: Richard Bush <rbushidioglot@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Fingers eveness! How??
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 12:02:41 -0500

Boy, I've never had any luck telling my wife to "relax" or "not to
worry" or "just forget it." Maybe you need to some sort of mind
thing...so yoga or meditation. Others will undoubtedly offer suggestions
there.

To get fingers relaxed and to get those scales even:

Try a neck strap to take some of the holding pressure off your right
thumb.
Practice scales very slowly IN FRONT OF A MIRROR. Notice how far your
fingers move. Keep them close to the finger holes and make sure they all
come up the same distance. Keep pinkies close to the keys. Don't let
them come additional amounts when you take off the upper fingers. This
will take great concentration.
Examine very carefully all of your finger movements. Refine them. Make
them economical. Keep them to a minimum.
All of this will take time, patience and perseverance.
How are your fingers working? Do you keep a little curve in every joint?
Do they hinge at the knuckles? They should.

It is really hard to know without watching you and listening to you. You
really shouldn't have aching arms from playing the clarinet.

Maybe the spring tensions on your clarinet mechanism are sprung heavily.
That can cause tension. Take it to a repairman and get his opinion.
Maybe they could stand to be lightened up and/or evened out.

Do you take private lessons? If not, this would be a good route to go. A
good teacher could help you with all of this.

Get back. Tell us a little more about your problems and your background,
how long you've been playing, private teachers if any, that kind of
stuff.

While good advice can be had over the internet, there is no substitute
for the good old fashioned one on one.

Good luck.

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