 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: SC
Date: 2002-01-31 23:23
I've been playing clarinet for about four years now and I've always had a strange fingering problem. After I've been playing for a while, usually half an hour sometimes an hour, my fingers start to lock painfully at the knuckles, especially the pinkie fingers. Once in a while it happens even before I've been playing for five minutes. I know my form is correct as my teacher would definitely inform me if it was not. So what's going on, and how can I make it stop?
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Author: Jim E.
Date: 2002-02-01 03:48
Have you spoken to your doctor yet? A consult with an orthopedist might be in order to either identify the problem, or to rule out a medical problem.
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2002-02-01 12:48
im double jointed in several of my fingers on both hands. sometimes between taking my finger off one key and before placing it onto the next it would lock up and get stuck. and the more concious of it i was, the worse it got. it really used to be a big problem and i used it as an excuse why i could play this or that. when i realized there is just no way around it - the problem wasnt just going to go away, i stopped worrying about it and even tho im still double jointed, the problem isnt as bad anymore.
so even if its not the same problem you are having, just knowing that this 'thing' is going to happen in a half hour or so, may actually be contributing to the problem. just a thot.
JL
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2002-02-01 15:38
SC -
Your hand position may be correct, but there's almost certainly too much muscle tension in your fingers, hands and forearms.
Try practicing for an hour before your lesson, until you get the problem, so your teacher can see what's happening.
If your teacher can't help, go to a physical therapist who works with musicians. Often, moving the thumb rest is all it takes, and the therapist can recommend stretching and lossening-up exercises to make you aware of any tension and learn how to release it.
This kind of thing needs attention now, as it can build up to an repetitive-stress injury.
Good luck.
Ken Shaw
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Author: William
Date: 2002-02-01 18:46
"Moving the thumb rest" means moving it to a little higher position. you might just try taking the screws out and turning it around (upside down) and see if that is more comfortable before you go to your repairperson and drill new mounting holes. You could also invest in aa adjustable thumbrest--most major instrument makers have them either as regular equipement or special order. I have Bay thumbrests (over priced but nice) on both of my clarinets and play them in a position so that the thumbrest in just beneath the Bb/F hole--that way, when I am playing, my thumb is directly below my r-h forefinger. It is much more comforable and frees up my little finger action quite a bit. As for the locking problem, you are probably using too much pressure when playing the little finger keys and need to relax. To help you do that, play with your wrists slightly upturned so that your fingers kind of slope down. You should not move your hands playing notes in the throat register and over the break--just move your fingers so that the bell of the clarinet does not move. You will need a mirror to help your technical "reflection." One of my best friends is a double jointed clarinetist and he has never had any locking problems like you describe. He played with his left thumb almost perpedicular and always in position to play the register key. Not recommended, but it worked for him. Hope this cyberbable helps--Good Clarineting!!!!!!!!!!
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Author: Rene
Date: 2002-02-02 08:15
The problem is discussed in Keith Stein's book abut the Art of Clarinet Play. He writes the habit must be broken early for it is difficult to fix later. If it is only the little fingers, you might want to work on a more relaxed position. You should eventually succeed. If it is the other fingers you definitely need to work on your finger postions. Are you playing the German clarinet with small hands? The little finger keys are more difficult to reach then. In this case, be extremely careful about a relaxed position for the little finger.
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