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Finger Tension

Author: Amy Tindall
Date: 2004-03-26 22:29

I have been struggling with my fingers and arms tensing up by the end of quicker songs. I've tried lots of things to relax but it's hard! I am playing Adagio an Tarantella-Cavallini, the end of this song is... well it's fast! Especially trying to get it up to 132! It seems unfeasable! Anyways... I know if I weren't so tense I would be able to play much quicker. If anyone knows anyways to practice to help get over my tension "phase" I would really like to here about them! Thanks.

Amy E. Tindall

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Re: Finger Tension

Author: Burt
Date: 2004-03-26 22:44

Try playing it way under tempo, then GRADUALLY (over the course of many days), increase the tempo. If you hit the point where your fingers get tense, back off the tempo again.

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Re: Finger Tension

Author: EEBaum
Date: 2004-03-27 01:29

Don't stress over each note, rather pay special attention to each downbeat.

-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com

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Re: Finger Tension

Author: ron b
Date: 2004-03-27 05:18

Hi, Amy -

Are your fingers angled down, diagonally, toward the bell? If not, you might wanta give it a try. For me it's much more comfortable that way than trying to finger the clarinet like a trumpet. It took a long time for me to make this marvelous discovery (duhhh...) but I've been a happier tooter ever since it dawned on me. Many players have found that moving the thumbrest up a bit also helps achieve a more comfortable and relaxed hand position.

- r [cool]

n b -

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Re: Finger Tension

Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2004-03-27 11:48

Amy -

Here's an idea I learned from the brilliant baroque oboist Gonzalo Ruiz.

Reverse the muscular effort, using strength to "pop" your fingers up, but let them drop only by gravity. This takes a while to get used to. Work on scales in thirds at 60 beats per minute, one note per beat. It's particularly difficult to learn changes that have one finger going up and another going down, but after a few days it starts to feel right.

Once you get the feel, you can reduce the effort you use to raise the fingers and get them to float up as well as drop down.

Also, relaxation lets you reduce finger motion. It's exciting to let your fingers fly around, but much more efficient to have them barely move. The saxophonist Sigurd Rascher said he tried to keep his fingers always in contact with the keys. Anything more is wasted. Imagine you're trying to mystify the audience by not letting them see your fingers move at all.

Best regards.

Ken Shaw

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