Klarinet Archive - Posting 000222.txt from 2001/06

From: "Gene Nibbelin" <gnibbelin@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] curved fingers
Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2001 22:25:21 -0400

Walter & Stewart -

Walter, you are absolutely correct in your comments regarding using a
"relaxed and comfortable" hand position. I was quite surprised that no one
had made your points earlier.

To comment further based on my experience, while my early student days were
a long time ago, I remember quite well the first time that my teacher placed
the horn in my hands. He first had me hold my hands in front of my chest
(left hand above the right hand, naturally) and told me to just let my hands
hang down in a naturally relaxed position. When I tried to place my fingers
on the horn in a curved position like I did on the piano, he said, "Your
finger tips will never cover the tone holes, but the pads of your fingers
will." He also pointed out that with the hands properly placed in this
relaxed position, the index fingers of each hand also rest in a position
near or touching the G# and A keys and the Eb trill key so that these keys
can be pressed without much more than merely straightening the index
fingers.

Thus, I think that most clarinetists' hand positions are curved to some
extent so that the pads of their fingers cover the tone holes, with the
fingers neither rigidly flat, nor rigidly arched like a "very proper" young
pianist's fingers. As Walter has said, "relaxed and comfortable".

I think that, perhaps, your straight vs. curved finger question may have
mystified some of the listers.

As to Stewart's question of how to overcome a bad habit, just follow
Walter's suggestion: "Relaxed and comfortable" and achieve this by
following my teacher's comments.

Hope my opinions helps.

Gene Nibbelin
Cape Coral, FL

-----Original Message-----
From: GrabnerWG@-----.com]
Subject: Re: [kl] curved fingers

Stewart says:

Thanks, James. Yes, I have been able to develop a reasonable technique
despite the flat fingers.

Walter observes -

Stewart, maybe you should concentrate on attaining a comfortable hands
position where your fingers feel relaxed and can move freely, and not worry
about "flat" versus "curved".

Remember these are your hands. No one else will ever have an idea of how
they work while playing. How "flat" or "curved" yours fingers should be is
really dependent on the LENGTH of your fingers and the position of the tone
holes, rings, and keys of your clarinet.

There is no "musical" benefit to "curved" fingers. To diagnose that all
players must curve their fingers is a harmful recommendation.

Here is my new motto: Believe NOTHING anyone else tells you that you "must"
do. Try it and see what works best for you. There is no "one" solution.

Walter "Guru on the Internet" Grabner
www.clarinetxpress.com

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