Klarinet Archive - Posting 000718.txt from 1999/08

From: Richard Bush <rbushidioglot@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Advice on student.............
Date: Wed, 25 Aug 1999 19:45:54 -0400

Clarinets could be made left handed, but.....

Few people are left handed. Read the statistic once, but don't have numbers.
Economics is probably the biggest reason.

I really don't think there is a need for it. Some of the most extraordinarily
difficult skills that must be mastered to play the clarinet have to do with
crossing the register break, thus placing a disproportionate burden on left hand
skills. The majority of us right handers don't seem to be complaining about that.
Actually, you should feel lucky. When you think about it, the clarinet is already
designed for and favors left handed players.

And while we're on the subject, can you imagine the chaos it would cause if
several violinists in an orchestra's string section were playing on left handed
violins? It could be down right hazardous.

O'Neile & Fisher wrote:

> At the first lesson I simply told him to wet his reed, put it
> > together and play something that he felt comfortable playing. Away he
> > went.....with the RIGHT HAND ON TOP!!!!
> > >>
> >That sure is pathetic! Even my 4th grade recorder students have learned to
> >put their right hand on the bottom.
> >Nan
> >Music Specialist K-5
> >NC
>
> Nan's dismissive snort prompts me to comment that I learnt to play a descant
> recorder about age 7, and played with the left hand on the lower section.
> This was most natural to me, was not impeded by instrument design, and so
> far as I recall, my teacher was complicit. With a recorder it frankly
> didn't seem to make any difference. So why not?
> I certainly understand that this is not practicable with the clarinet as
> presently constituted. But why is it not possible to make "left-handed
> clarinets"? Is there a compelling technical reason why the clarinet is
> structured as it is, or is it a case of tradition, economics and teacher
> convenience?
> And, recognising that I may be reinforcing the wierdness of this post,
> perhaps I should add that I was also taught elementary piano about age 7,
> and eventually gave it away because the keyboard extended from low left to
> high right, when to me, it should have been the other way around. I still
> think that to be the case.
> But then I am from "down-under" where most things seem to be "base-over-apex".
> Michael
>

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