Klarinet Archive - Posting 000329.txt from 2010/08

From: "Karl Krelove" <karlkrelove@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] LH Thumb Placement
Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 08:27:27 -0400

Hi, Cathryn

I hold my left thumb at about a 45 degree angle, but I'm sure this depends
on an individual player's hands. If I try to move my thumb toward 90 degrees
(right angle to the clarinet, as you describe your own thumb position) my
ring finger doesn't reach the hole it needs to cover. To put my left thumb
parallel to the instrument forces my fingers to curl uncomfortably. If my
fingers - especially my 4th (ring) finger - were longer, I might be
comfortable (might even need) to raise my thumb angle to have my fingers hit
their spots comfortably. What's most important is that your hand needs to be
in a natural and relaxed position.

I don't know the piece you're learning or the context of the pitch sequence
you've described. I assume you're talking about "throat" notes and that the
E-flat is on the bottom staff line. It may be that the height of your A-flat
key is making it more awkward than necessary. Too high might make you raise
your whole left hand uncomfortably to avoid hitting the A-flat/G-sharp
accidentally. If the key is too low, opening it in the passage could be
forcing you to move your left hand too far out of position. It's usually
helpful in a passage like that to keep your hand movement minimal. Also, how
are you fingering the E-flat? You have at least 3 choices, although the next
note after the E-flat may eliminate one or two of them. If getting *to* the
E-flat from A-flat is the problem, try a different fingering.

Karl

On 23 Aug 2010, at 10:13, Cathryn Calitz wrote:

Hello everyone,

I'm new to the list and I'm currently struggling with the fingering of a
particular James Rae grade 6 piece.
While trying to find the source of my fingering problems with my teacher. I
discovered that I hold the clarinet with my LH. thumb almost at a 90 degree
angle to the Clarinet, while my teacher plays the with her thumb almost
parallel
to the her Clarinet.

My teacher suggested that it was the way I was holding the Clarinet that was

affect my fingering. The piece is called entanglement and it is required to
play
Bb, F, Bb, Ab, Eb. I have been unaware of my thumb placement before coming
across this difficulty.

I'm very interested to hear how everyone else holds their clarinet and
whether I
should try change my style of holding with my LH.

Cath Calitz

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