Klarinet Archive - Posting 000440.txt from 2002/12

From: "Patricia A. Smith" <patricia@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Beginners' Right Hand position; was, HELP! -- Teaching Beginners
Date: Wed, 18 Dec 2002 09:31:43 -0500

Avi Rostov wrote:

> It's really important to check often to be sure your students' clarinets are
> working properly. I check mine at the first lesson each month. I suggest:

<great suggestions snipped for space considerations>

> Do your students a favor, and insist on good hand position right away. It's
> so easy to start out right and so hard to break bad habits.

Thanks for these specifics to the list. Your remarks about hand position
are right on the money. The only things I would add is, regarding hand
position, most often it is the right hand that is most out of whack,
with the student wanting to overcompensate with the thumb balance,
resting the thumbrest either halfway down the thumb or even entirely in
the angle of the hand, rather than on what is preferred (most of the
time), half on the thumbnail and half on the skin. A caveat here: a few
students, due to odd joint problems, etc. either may need a difference
in positioning, or may even have to play another instrument. However,
in most cases, the balancing of the right hand should be such that the
top four fingers' tips are practically directly over the thumb when
holding the clarinet, and the entire hand is able to remain relaxed and
hold the horn relatively comfortably. Additionally, the wrists should
remain below the hands, rather than at an odd raised angle, or parallel
to the hands (yes, that has been done! It looks weird, but if it can be
tried, students WILL do it!); students should be discouraged from
"taking flight" with their elbows and upper arms!

One of the prime problems in my experience with beginners is that they
tend to hold the right hand position too far up on the thumb, creating
tension not only in the hand, but also in the right wrist, not only
making it more difficult for the fingers to move easily and lightly, but
also causing wrist and even arm pain.

Patricia Smith

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