Klarinet Archive - Posting 000172.txt from 2001/06

From: "Aimee E. Kratofil" <kratofil@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] re: curved fingers
Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2001 10:59:18 -0400

Stewart,

I always address this problem with young, weak fingers, and
have helped a high school flutist with the same pinky
problem. Those small muscles and ligaments and tendons need
to be strengthened.

The flute player was experiencing pain with the RH pinky,
because she was pressing and the finger was flat to bending
the wrong way. She went to a hand specialist. He, the
doctor, called me. I asked him if the finger could be
strengthened to withstand the pressure and remain curved.
He agreed and helped her do just that.

You don't need a specialist. He gave her silly-putty-like
stuff. One could use a soft stress ball. Press against the
substance with the *desired finger position*. Hold for a
short while. Never let it collapse. At first you may not
be able to press for long or very hard, but it will
improve. Repeat daily until desired effect is reached!
Never pain!!!

Another exercise that I start from young with students is
called "full tires" (from Tim Shafer, PSU piano teacher).
It is a childish illustration, but the concept works. Place
a finger on the thumb of the same hand and make a circle.
The finger should be in a good curve. This is your full
tire. How's it feel? It should feel OK, no pain or
strain. No collapse the finger (press down). This is your
flat tire. What cars run on flat tires? How fast can you
go on a flat tire, etc. Now, how does this feel? Stewart,
you have already figured out that the "flat tire" position
is not productive. It can also be painful. Now, go back
to the full tire and press down as much as you can *without*
letting the finger collapse. Repeat daily until desired
effect is reached! Never pain!!!

Good luck. Identifying the hindrance if the most important
first step!

Aimee Kratofil
WoodWind Week! is June 24-29, 2001!
http://www.pamusicteachers.org

Stewart Kiritz wrote:

> Interested in any suggestions on learning to play with curved fingers,
> especially pinkies. No one corrected my flat fingers in my youth, and now I
> have quite a bit of facility, but I am running into limitations due to the
> flatness. The pinkies are definitely feeble. But it's hard to change after
> all this time. I try to be mindful of this issue, especially when playing
> slow passages, and this helps. But I regress when playing rapidly.
>
> Stewart Kiritz
>

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