Klarinet Archive - Posting 000023.txt from 2010/10

From: Robert Glendinning <glendin@-----.ca>
Subj: [kl] Old Fingers
Date: Mon, 04 Oct 2010 13:57:46 -0400

I joined the Klarinet list about 18 months ago and have been a lurker
till now. I would just like to add my two cents worth to the
discussion of Jim Lytthan's post "Old Fingers." If Jim has "old
fingers", I have "old, old fingers." I'll turn 80 next June (retired
academic). I played the clarinet enthusiastically in my teens
(highschool orchestra), although my main instrument was piano. I
returned to the clarinet a few years ago in my retirement and have
been generally pleased with my ability to "reclaim" it - almost, I
think, to the point where I was at age 17 (on a good day upper
intermediate). However, like Jim I have had a problem with not always
properly closing the tone holes. It's not arthritis, my fingers are
straight. My theory is that in my case it is caused by a combination
of two things: 1) my "old fingers" (not as old as Stanley Drucker's,
of course, but almost) are bony and the little flesh left on them is
soft and mushy, not full and firm as in a younger person. This means I
have to press harder to seal the tone holes properly; 2) by pushing
harder I destabilize the instrument, which makes it harder for my
fingers (and thumb) to find the tone holes in order to close them
properly. A catch-22 situation. I have adopted a somewhat successful
method of dealing with this. To compensate for the instability of the
instrument I draw my knees together and rest the bell of the clarinet
in the cleft formed thereby. This largely solved the finger placement
problem, but it created some other problems. I had to adjust my
embouchure and blowing technique considerably. At this point, however,
I'm happy with the compromise with orthodoxy. It's less harmful to my
pride than a harness support would be, and hey! I'm never going to be
standing in front of an audience as a soloist. I have an acquaintance
who has switched to a plateau clarinet, but I haven't considered that
so far, on the theory "there's gotta be a catch." Any comment on
plateau Bb clarinets? Loss of tone quality and agility?

Bob Glendinning
_______________________________________________
Klarinet mailing list
Klarinet@-----.com
To do darn near anything to your subscription, go to:
http://klarinet-list.serve-music.com