 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Janey
Date: 2002-04-05 16:53
I've been playing for about four years now I've encountered a wall. It seem that when I'm playing, my fingers and hands become very tense, even more so with increased playing, and it causes my hands to start to painfully cramp up. This makes doing many things on clarinet nearly impossible, especially going over the break, even keeping the right hand down---frustrating!!! Advancing on clarinet is extremely important to me but is not possible if I don't solve this problem, and if I have to make any drastic changes to my technique after four years it will be very difficult. Any suggestions?
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Author: Brian
Date: 2002-04-05 21:43
Janey,
You will more than likely get a lot of advice on this subject and almost all of it will be well meant and sincere but the best thing you can do is see a doctor about your problem.
Best of luck and keep us posted about this!
Peace!
Brian
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Author: clarinet71382
Date: 2002-04-06 03:00
I have a suggestion. It might be good to seek a counselor to ask about confidence, assertiveness, and just to talk about your feelings on playing in general. I have started doing this and it is helping.
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Author: Ginny
Date: 2002-04-06 06:23
Have you read "the Inner Game of Music?" that might be helpful.
Also try intentionally tightening and then relaxing to get the muscle sense
of relaxation. Then play SLOWLY and feel as if your hands are made of
soft butter. Learn how it feels when you are relaxed. Eventually you will be able
to maintain relaxation at higher speeds. Your technique does not change
just the way your body feels.
You are likely trying too hard...you will get there. You can learn to
feel relaxed and soft yet ready when you play.
Ginny
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2002-04-08 16:16
Janey -
There are many sources of tension. As you have found, simply trying to relax your fingers is sometimes not enough.
Lie down or sit comfortably. Relax your scalp, then your jaw, then your tongue, then your teeth (really), then your sinuses, then your throat, then your neck, then your shoulders. Go on down your body until you reach your feet. You should feel almost as if you're floating.
Then, start with your feet and go up.
Then play very softly and gently, gradually working your way into faster playing, but always slowing down again if you feel the tension rising.
Unfortunately, tension often originates in an "embarrassing" place -- the anal sphincter, and, in women, the vaginal sphincter. You have to make sure these are part of the relaxation process.
Take out the Baermann Method, Part 3. With a metronome, play just the first exercise, the ascending and descending scale in each key, all the way around the circle of fifths. Go very slowly, particularly in the extreme keys. Quarter notes at 60 is not too slow, and even slower if you need to in order to make it even and to avoid retriggering tension.
As you do this, you'll find that tension increases as you go to more and more flats. However, once you get on the downslope, fewer and fewer sharps, you'll find your tension decreasing. By the time you get to the key of C again, you should be able to be very relaxed.
It helps to watch yourself in a mirror, so you can reduce the amount of finger motion to a minimum.
You really need to get with a teacher or a physical therapist who treats musicians, or maybe a yoga instructor or massage therapist. The main thing is to have someone who can spot tension and help you find a way to avoid triggering it.
Good luck.
Ken Shaw
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Author: David Dow symphony NB
Date: 2002-04-24 13:53
Try less movement of the fingers and keep them close to the clarinet, also try to to play like you don't really give a damm..music is for enjoyment and when you worry or become self-conscious problems arise. Also try to excerecise and talk freely about to your doctor about this problem...usage of a sore wrist or arm will make things alot worse...take a day off practicing once a week to recoup...get a good teacher who can identify the triggers in your technique that lead to tension....when frustrated go have a tea or coffee and think of the beauties of like..forget blind ambition and work towards your own goals. Life is a beautifl thing.
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