 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ClaRiNeT_CaNdY
Date: 2003-10-04 16:28
yea.. sometimes my two pinkys are locked and cant trill or cant even press the fingers... in case u don't know what's locked, its like u cantbend the fingers unless u crack them..
is there anyway to stop it?
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Author: BobD
Date: 2003-10-04 16:53
You should seek professional medical advice. "Cracking" your knuckles is not generally considered a good idea.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2003-10-04 17:17
It sounds like you play with those fingers flat and straight. There should be a slight arch in them at all times. I.e. the knuckles should always have a slight bend in them at all times, which should prevent them from "locking."
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Author: BobD
Date: 2003-10-04 23:07
One advantage of arthritis....your fingers are always bent. The bad news is they lock.
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2003-10-05 03:52
Sounds like they might be "double-jointed." I'd say just keep practicing with them NOT locked until that becomes the new habit. Won't be easy, but habit-breaking never is...
Katrina
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Author: Rachel
Date: 2003-10-05 10:52
Do any of you ever find that your fingers seize up when you get nervous, or when you play a difficult passage (or something that you KNOW should be easy, but just won't come out right)? Mine do, and when they do, it feels like something in my brain is shortcircuiting - like an electrical device being overloading and cutting out. Why does this happen?
It has become a lot better since I started having lessons with a teacher who calmly explaining what my mistakes were, and how to fix them, rather than just yelling at me every time I make a mistake.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-10-05 18:31
Well said, Rachel, nervous reaction as well as arthuritis, fatigue [my enemy!], and too much manipulation [repetitive use] of the heavily-employed index fingers gives us all fits. I find that vigorous shaking of both hand"s fingers during rests can help, partic. for the "poorer" 3rd and 4th fingers, fewer tendons perhaps? Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: BobD
Date: 2003-10-05 19:26
Reassuring to know that I'm not the only one shaking my fingers. The medical diagnosis was carpal tunnel.
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Author: Terry Horlick
Date: 2003-10-05 19:43
Dear ClaRiNeT_CaNdY,
I first noticed the exact same thing which happens with my "pinkie" fingers on both hands. It seems to be worse when I am nervous. It only happens on clarinet due to the position of the keys, sax is no problem in regards to this. As stated above, keeping the fingers arched will prevent it, but that doesn't seem to be possible for me on some run combinations.
I noticed it when I was about 10 years old and hoped it would go away or just cease to be a problem. Now 40 years later I can tell you it does not go away, but then again it doesn't get worse! This little annoyance is one of the several reasons I knew I would never be a "serious clarinet player" so I invested my major efforts elsewhere.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel... a few years ago I replaced my standard Boehm clarinet with a Full Boehm. When I see a passage I know will cause this problem I just shift the notes to the other hand keys, in other words getting a clarinet with other alternate fingerings will not cure the hand problem, but may let you avoid it by utilizing alternate fingerings.
If you feel it is improtant enough to you to persist and become a professional level player I would recommend laying your hands on a Full Boehm model ASAP.
IMHO, Terry
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-10-05 20:17
Beautiful set, Terry! Even the A has a low Eb!! FB's, I have an old PM 1925?, Selmer 1920?, Selmer 1932, a couple "lessers" with a couple of "additions" on each. All very useful. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-10-06 04:38
Rachel, your comments bring up a good point: Teachers can be fired. No student should continue to support a teacher who is not supporting the student.
Regards,
John
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Author: gerry
Date: 2003-10-06 20:28
Sounds like this may be a medical problem if the fingers actually get "Stuck" and you have to unlock them physically. This is commonly called Trigger Finger where the tendon gets caught in the "Sleeve" due to some build up or something on the tendon. It is easily fixed by a competent Plastic Surgeon usually under a Local. Procedure takes only a few minutes plus a few days to heal. I have had this done with about five of my fingers. Quite common and usually a result of an arthritic condition.
This may start with only an occasional locking of the fingers, but if it gets worse, could be "Trigger Finger". Check with your doctor. It is quite a common problem. My first instance of this was when I was about 50.
Hope this helps,
Gerry.
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