Klarinet Archive - Posting 000138.txt from 2003/10

From: "Dee D. Flint" <deehays@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Banana key (was tongue movements)
Date: Mon, 6 Oct 2003 22:37:53 -0400

----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Bush" <rbushidioglot@-----.net>
Subject: Re: [kl] Banana key (was tongue movements)

> With a group such as this, with its many very talented members, I'm not
> going to tell anyone what they should or shouldn't do, particularly
> when it comes to fingerings.
>
> I will, however, share with you what I tell my own private students.
> First, I tell them that they should become very good at using all of
> the fingerings. Only when one is comfortable with all fingerings will
> one be objective when choices present themselves. I explain the logical
> and mechanical reasons for choosing particular fingerings and come up
> with a general rule that applies, then go on to also explain that a
> particular fingering might be chosen for other reasons, such as tuning
> or tone quality. Such a rule might be:
>
> The sliver Eb/Bb is used in a Bb scale, but the side key is used
> whenever the note before or after is one that requires the left hand
> ring finger to close the third finger hole.
>
> I figure that a particular key is on the instrument by popular demand
> and if no one ever used it, the maker would be happy to not put it on,
> saving some money in the process.
>
> Richard Bush
>

I agree with this approach. Having followed it myself, I find that I use
the various Eb/Bb fingerings based on the particular passage. The fingering
drills in the Rubank Advanced method books are good for developing facility
with various alternate fingerings (not to mention slides).

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