Klarinet Archive - Posting 000416.txt from 2010/08

From: John Brophy <johnbrophy0@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] LH Thumb Placement
Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 17:24:34 -0400

Hi all!

If you use side key (3rd up) on right key to get the Bb, you don't have to
move left thumb at all. The Eb can be got with first finger RH.
The side key gives a Bb note twice as strong as the more usual fingering and
is better for long notes. Sadly, far too few folk use or teach it.
If you look at the tutors, such as Lazarus, from the 1880s when the Boehm
clarinet was introduced, one of the main features advertised was that you
didn't have to move thumb so much. The whole point is that you play the A
key with the first knuckle of LH index finger, and a slight roll of the
wrist will get you the Ab. using finger tip on A key (or thumb tip for Bb)
impairs fluency.
I also think that using the second side-key for F# is far better than
risking a quack by doing it the other way. After all, poor Klose spent years
working on key design, and we owe it to him to use the keys provided, not
just for trills.

Happy fingerings!

JB

On Mon, Aug 23, 2010 at 12:48 PM, Martin Baxter <martinbaxter1@-----.com>wrote:

> Cath. I was intrigued by this so I checked my thumb angle and found that I
> hold my thumb at about 30 degrees to the vertical on my B flat clarinet, but
> on other sizes the angle alters; on my Eb and C instruments my thumb is
> almost horizontal. You might try removing the thumbrest completely and then,
> with someone else supporting the weight, see where your thumb is most
> comfortable. A session with a good repairer would be worth the expense as
> he/she could then make the requisite trial.
> My own repairer is meticulous about adjusting the position of keywork to
> suit my hand. However he (David Kyle) lives in the UK. If you ever
> contemplate a holiday in the English Lake District get in touch with me and
> I will arrange a visit. However I am sure there will be a good technician
> near you and someone on the list can advise.
> Martin
> 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
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Klarinet mailing list
> Klarinet@-----.com
> To do darn near anything to your subscription, go to:
> http://klarinet-list.serve-music.com
>
> _______________________________________________
> Klarinet mailing list
> Klarinet@-----.com
> To do darn near anything to your subscription, go to:
> http://klarinet-list.serve-music.com
>

--
John Brophy
16 St Brigid's Road
Clondalkin
Dublin 22

+ 353 1 459 2136
+ 353 87 244 7718
_______________________________________________
Klarinet mailing list
Klarinet@-----.com
To do darn near anything to your subscription, go to:
http://klarinet-list.serve-music.com