 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: BKG
Date: 2004-03-14 20:40
Hello,
I have always wanted to pick up playing the clarinet, but wanted to first find out if someone with 9 fingers can play this instrument.
My right pinky top knuckle has no flexibility, and I cannot really apply much pressure with that finger at all. I don't type with it (have adapted to that).
Would this prevent me from ever playing this instrument well? I know I won't ever become a piano player, but can I ever effectively play the Clarinet?
I am adept as a guitar player (left hand perfect!), but would love to play the Clarinet, just thought I'd ask some real players to save myself some frustrations.
Cheers!
BKG
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Author: David Peacham
Date: 2004-03-14 21:17
I have to say that I think you'll struggle. Three of the four keys operated by this finger are duplicated on the left hand, and on some (expensive) instruments all four are duplicated, so in principle it is possible to play the clarinet without using this finger at all. In practice is likely to be a different matter. You don't need to apply very much pressure to the keys, but you certainly need to move the finger.
I can't help feeling that you'd be better applying your talents to instruments that don't use this finger - any of the brass, the harp, percussion. I assume bowed strings would also be OK; a string player might tell you otherwise.
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If there are so many people on this board unwilling or unable to have a civil and balanced discussion about important issues, then I shan't bother to post here any more.
To the great relief of many of you, no doubt.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-03-14 21:52
I'll be back in a few minutes with a site . . . someone who customizes clarinets and saxaphones to help accomodate severed digits and the like. Perhaps you can give them a call. They actually have a few pictures, one of which is a situation similar to yours (missing the tip of one finger).
Also, you may want to look at adapting a german style clarinet. I suggest this only because it has two keys for the right pinky to operate instead of four so it might be a little easier for you to mechanically operate. Slightly different, but still very playable and very widely used in today's world.
But once I find this site, I'll post it here and you can go there and ask the person questions as to what THEY would recommend (seeing as they deal with this much more often than I do or many others).
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: BKG
Date: 2004-03-15 01:01
This is excellent information! Just what I needed to hear
One question on the German style Clarinet, I see there are a number of models (D16, D26, D27, D41, etc).
Is there one in particular that is recommended for someone with limited usage of the right pinky? I see some have 19keys, 20keys... I have no knowledge of the instrument to just what would be best to get.
The modification information is great. I was thinking of taking the suggestion of a german-style clarinet that would just have 2 keys to work, and possibly have it modified to work with my finger.
Thanks!
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-03-15 07:19
Quote:
One question on the German style Clarinet, I see there are a number of models (D16, D26, D27, D41, etc).
Is there one in particular that is recommended for someone with limited usage of the right pinky? I see some have 19keys, 20keys... I have no knowledge of the instrument to just what would be best to get. Neither do I. My knowledge of german systems doesn't go beyond knowing a few different fingerings and a little about the slightly different setup. I just thought (trying to use logic) that if you thought you might have limited use of your right pinky, it might be best to get a clarinet that doesn't even have that much for it to do! And two keys with a roller in between seemed better to me than four keys, without a roller.
Once again though I'd check with the people at the shop. I don't know what they're capable of and maybe they DO have a way to adapt a boehm system easily for you and that could save you a little green. But the difference really wouldn't be something to write home about unless you're looking at TOP of the line clarinets.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
Post Edited (2004-03-15 07:21)
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Author: Taxijazz
Date: 2004-03-15 09:31
I severed the tendons on my right hand when I crushed a coke bottle on someones face, and an operation on my hand was unsucessful. I also suffered a gunshot wound in my left hand when I disarmed an assailant. The doctors said "You're a concert pianist--But you'll never play the piano again". And it was absurd for me to try to play a clarinet, but I was determined, and I don't care for plateaus or the other modifications that people suggested--I just practiced more, and learned to deal with it, but I've found that some clarinets are much easier than others, and some I still can't play at all. I bought many many clarinets to try to get used to something, and there are radical differences in some of the older models. For a long time I could only play Eb clarinet, but I found some Bb clarinets that suit me fine now. Practice and try to deal with it and eventually you will.
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Author: David Peacham
Date: 2004-03-15 09:52
BKG - you need to understand that the reason the German system clarinet has only two keys for that finger, is that its keys are not duplicated.
On a Boehm system, the left little finger operates keys for c#, f#, f, e, and the right for g#, f#, f, e (also the notes a twelfth above in each case.) Therefore the g# is the only note that must be played with the right hand. As I mentioned in my original post, some (expensive) instruments have the g# duplicated on the left as well.
On a German instrument, the left hand has only the c#, f#, e and the right hand has only the g#, f (I think that's right....and some German instruments have more alternatives.)
With German clarinets, the more you pay the more keys you get. With Boehm, the majority have exactly the same number regardless of price.
Finally, if you buy a German clarinet, you may have trouble playing it in tune in the USA or England. German clarinets are generally tuned sharper, and just pulling out the barrel to flatten them will put them out of tune with themselves. This is not an insuperable problem, but it is one more obstacle to overcome.
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If there are so many people on this board unwilling or unable to have a civil and balanced discussion about important issues, then I shan't bother to post here any more.
To the great relief of many of you, no doubt.
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Reply To Message
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-03-15 13:36
Quote:
I severed the tendons on my right hand when I crushed a coke bottle on someones face, and an operation on my hand was unsucessful. I also suffered a gunshot wound in my left hand when I disarmed an assailant.....Practice and try to deal with it and eventually you will. The problem here is not a will to practice or fingers not 'moving' as they should, it's the lack of reach that BKG has to overcome. It'd be akin to moving your right hand cluster of keys down away from your pinky so that even stretching won't reach them (I'm speculating since I don't know how far BKG's pinky will reach) but I'm just pointing out that sometimes things HAVE to be done mechanically because willpower won't be able to do it.
Alexi
PS - You yourself stated that some clarinets you can't play at all. Depending on the situation here, this might be ALL stock clarinets for BKG.
US Army Japan Band
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