Klarinet Archive - Posting 000278.txt from 2002/05

From: Tony@-----.uk (Tony Pay)
Subj: [kl] Keeping your fingers straight
Date: Sat, 11 May 2002 03:16:56 -0400

On Sat, 11 May 2002 00:02:04 -0400, gnibbelin@-----.com said:

[snip]

> Since following his advice to lower my hand positions and curve my
> fingers more, the sliver key problem has corrected itself and my hands
> are more relaxed, resulting in greatly improved technical speed and NO
> MORE LITTLE FINGER LOCK UPS.

The bit about curved fingers is something I definitely go along with.
Keeping your fingers straight as you play requires you to use opposing
muscles farther up your arm, a fact that isn't readily apparent once
you've developed the habit of doing it. *This* opposition, unlike the
abdomen/diaphragm opposition, is almost always counterproductive. (I
say 'almost', because there are some fast trills where such opposition
can be momentarily useful.)

You can get trouble at your *elbow* as a result of this effortful
straightening of the little finger. I found this out playing period
instruments, where the RH little finger has to cover a hole in the body
of the instrument rather than close a key. The plane of the circular
rim of this hole not infrequently requires a straight little finger to
cover it, and I found it worthwhile to alter the plane of the hole by
building up one side with epoxy.

Some period instruments have an ivory bush in that hole, which similarly
gets round the problem.

Tony
--
_________ Tony Pay
|ony:-) 79 Southmoor Rd Tony@-----.uk
| |ay Oxford OX2 6RE http://classicalplus.gmn.com/artists
tel/fax 01865 553339

.... Atheism is a non-prophet organization.

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