Klarinet Archive - Posting 001030.txt from 2000/07

From: "kweinstein" <kweinstein@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] more on Left hand thumb
Date: Sat, 29 Jul 2000 17:02:39 -0400

From the Sneezy archives :

http://www.sneezy.org/Databases/Logs/1999/08/000542.txt

"The left hand is somewhat different. The wrist is bent inward more and
rotated clockwise as if one were screwing in a screw left handed. This
position of the wrist will allow the left thumb to properly approach and
> cover the thumb hole and operate the register/Bb key. The left thumb
should be fairly straight, should come across the hole at 45 degrees (half
way between straight in and straight up, or as if the thumb were a hand on a
clock pointing to seven minutes after the hour). The flat, thumb print part
of the thumb, opposite the thumb nail should cover the hole. The tip of the
thumb should be scooted enough past the ring to be hovering over the
register key. No joints, particularly the first joint, should be hyper
extended or kinked downward. KEEP ALL JOINTS STRAIGHT OR VERY CLOSE TO IT.

... and, of course, excellent advice was given to **seek the guidance of a
teaching professional**. IMO, a competent teacher is an indispensable
prerequisite to Clarinet ... as important as an instrument or setup.

Stewart's idea of the the Tennis Ball is great, too. (I think Clark Fobes
or somebody previously referred to it in the Archives as something like the
small, sand-filled rubber ball often found at music stores and directed to
> giitar & string players) Whatever.... its a round object that will fit in
the palm of the hand to assist in keeping the palm open & relaxed.

good luck .... mw

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