Klarinet Archive - Posting 000184.txt from 2002/08

From: "John J. O'Neill" <avodah@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Throat F and F# fingerings
Date: Wed, 21 Aug 2002 01:02:46 -0400

Dear List Members,

I have been wondering about this for quite a while. My first teacher
taught me to use the left-hand thumb & the two right-hand trill keys
when playing throat F#. He called this fingering 'the Italian Method.'
My second teacher told me to forget that fingering and use the left-hand
index finger to produce throat F#. He called this fingering 'the French
Method.' Over the years I have alternated between these fingerings, and
I have to admit that the finger-flipping required to play throat F and
F# in a chromatic scale was somewhat challenging. I wonder what the list
members use (and why) when playing chromatic scales.

Is there a preferred fingering? I feel that it would be better to
select one of these fingerings and stick with it for all chromatic
scales. Please don't flame me on this subject. I am willing to try 'the
Martian Method' -- or any other method if such a one exists. TIA!

JON

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