Klarinet Archive - Posting 000157.txt from 2002/12

From: Anna Benassi <acb@-----.is>
Subj: [kl] fingers and double-jointedness
Date: Sat, 7 Dec 2002 19:37:18 -0500

Dear Rebecca,

I have had this problem to a lesser extent, and it seems to have
gotten slightly worse with age and erratic practice. What has helped
me most is making a conscious effort to keep my fingers rounded when I
play. They seem unable to lock up when they're rounded.

A 10-yr-old student of mine had this problem in the first three
fingers of his left hand. I was scared to death I wouldn't be able to
help him, having never seen such unusual fingers before, but some
systematic finger exercises - moving only one finger at a time while
concentrating on rounded fingers throughout - worked very well.
Perhaps this boy was unusually receptive, but the problem has all but
disappeared. In that vein, you could try repetitive exercises such as
c-d-c-d (using LH c), c-Eb-c-Eb, and anything else you can devise. You
can also compose some short finger exercises using the material in
that etude you are playing.

Best of luck.

Anna

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