Klarinet Archive - Posting 000175.txt from 2001/06

From: stewart kiritz <kiritz@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] re: curved fingers
Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2001 11:05:21 -0400

I will try this. We must remember not to pull a Robert Schumann! (using a
weight machine to strengthen the pinkie and wrecking it completely)

Stewart
----- Original Message -----
From: "Aimee E. Kratofil" <kratofil@-----.com>
Subject: [kl] re: curved fingers

> 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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