 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Oglesby14
Date: 2003-05-25 18:05
my clarinet instructor tells me i can't use alternamt fingerings. Does it make a difference. I mean it sounds the same
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Author: Corey
Date: 2003-05-25 18:36
He told you NOT to use them? That's strange my private teacher tells me TO use them all the time. Alternate fingerings can come in handy for technical passages and to help in tuning. But, if your instructor tells you not to then you must go with what he says. I still find that akward, though. -Corey
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Author: Oglesby14
Date: 2003-05-25 19:17
yeah he tells me not to use them because it gives a slightly different tone but i dont think it does.
~hannah~
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Author: Sue
Date: 2003-05-25 19:31
Alternate fingerings do help in technical passages. I had been using a few alternate fingerings all the time (out of habit) and my teacher told me that it would eventually compromise my speed later on. Maybe this is the thinking of your teacher too and he doesn't even what to talk about them right now. Have you checked to see if later on he might not introduce alternate fingerings?.
Sue
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Author: javier garcia m
Date: 2003-05-25 20:29
We play clarinet to make music. Fingerings are not the scope of the music, only a way to make it. Use them if you need them, but not abuse with them.
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Author: johnh
Date: 2003-05-25 20:54
Just to give a different view--My instructor has also directed that I not use alternative fingerings. Especially those that I might use to help my tuning. We have been working on my intonation and using alt. fingerings are sometimes a crutch to be in tune instead of developing a better embouchure.
She admits that in some performing situations, she uses them. However, only when the traditional fingerings are not working.
That being said, all instructions are out the window in the altismo register.
Whatever works!!!
Joh
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Author: clarinetwife
Date: 2003-05-25 21:48
Well, I am a little confused. I was taught that one of the functions of the keywork on the Boehm system clarinet was to increase speed and fluidity on technical passages and trills that would be much more awkward without alternate fingerings. Yes, they can differ in terms of sound and intonation, and that is one of the things one needs to learn about the horn as one studies. Perhaps I don't get the full picture of what is being taught to some of you?
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-05-25 22:21
Oglesby14 wrote: ''...yeah he tells me not to use them because it gives a slightly different tone ..."
Please ask your instructor to clarify what that means....Ask him to post his explanation here as well. I would be interested in reading it...GBK
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Author: ron b
Date: 2003-05-25 22:58
Ohmeohmy, so would I, GBK.
You'll need a better explanation than you've gotten for not using them, Hannah. Clarinetwife just gave all the sound reasons FOR using them.
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Author: David
Date: 2003-05-25 23:34
Unbelievable. This teacher has actually ever played a clarinet then? Alternate fingerings are what it's all about. They are there for occasions when using the usual version is awkward, uncomfortable, impossible or just bonkers.
While I applaud your teacher's concerns about pitch, a perfectly pitched note is a fat lot of good if it's taken you an extra tenth of second to get there.
Anyway, what price the left and right pinkie keys? If they are not alternatives, I don't know what is.
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Author: allencole
Date: 2003-05-26 00:23
Let's not be too hasty here, folks. What we're hearing from the original poster sounds very oversimpliflied. There was no mention of WHICH alternate fingerings were at issue, or under what circumstances they should be avoided.
I'm also not sure that we set the best example by telling the student either to change teachers, or to have the teacher log on here to explain himself. Given the tiny amount of actual information gleaned so far, I would find it hard to give advice at all.
We get posts all the time from students complaining about teachers. It seems to me that step one is to insist that the student thoroughly and clearly articulate the issue that he/she introduces.
Allen Cole
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-05-26 01:23
allencole....Perhaps the student did not articulate the teacher's precise thoughts on alternate fingerings, but if the statement "he tells me not to use them because it gives a slightly different tone" is true, that would indeed trouble me.
I'm sure you know as well as I that alternate fingerings (and for that matter, resonance fingerings) are an important (if not essential) tool to have and use.
The clarinet is far from a perfect instrument. It must be played in tune. There is absolutely no excuse not to. Teaching a student to be aware of his/her pitch at all times is an important skill. Alternate fingerings often can help to compensate for certain "less than perfect" notes (eg: F6 on the R-13 clarinet). Teaching just the "textbook" fingerings is not enough.
The entire concept of alternate fingerings to help facilitate technical passages is another matter in itself. Any clarinet teacher who is inflexible, and insists on only using basic fingerings is doing a disservice to his students, and is not one I would encourage further study with...GBK
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Author: wyatt
Date: 2003-05-26 03:16
find out what he/she believes to be the correct fingering for each note and go from there. i have found that being able to use differant fingering allows me to get from one note to the next.
bob gardner}ÜJ
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2003-05-26 11:54
There are so many great sounding alternate fingerings I would beware of bad advice....
This reminds me of the half hole technique which can make some players so flat and out of tune if not applied in the right places.....
I would certainly take the teacher to task here and find out if they know what the alternate fingerings are and cite why not. I know that having alternate fingerings really can be a blessing....
David Dow
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Author: ken
Date: 2003-05-26 21:21
Oglesby14 wrote: ''...yeah he tells me not to use them because it gives a slightly different tone ..."
--If true and taking this statement at face value I too question this teacher's interesting position. Unless, I have a beginning student who hasn't first mastered their standard fingerings up to at least an altissimo G natural, alternate fingerings are as fundamental in my lesson plan as instrument maintenance. I also extend an invitation for this teacher to join our discussion and contribute their unique perspective on the role and practical application of alternate fingerings. v/r Ken
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Author: Oglesby14
Date: 2003-05-26 22:23
sue...my teacher already taught me about alternate fingerings and he told me not to use them and when i do use them he gives me a lecture or just tells me to play the song over till i play it with the "correct" fingerings.
Hannah
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Author: bassclarinetchicka88
Date: 2003-05-27 00:27
well - its possible that it does give you a different tone and you're just not picking up on it. listening is a lot different than playing, believe me. i listened to myself tape recorded about a month ago and realized that i sound completely different than i'd previously thought - it was a complete shock!
or - your teacher could be wrong like so many others are saying. the alternates are easier to use (and sometimes the only option available) in some pieces and you are going to have to learn to play them clearly sometime or another.
well - good luck!
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Author: allencole
Date: 2003-05-27 06:32
Once again, can we try and get some solid examples here?
Hannah,
1 - How many major scales have you learned, and do you know the chromatic scale yet? (one octave is plenty)
2 - When you are told that you are to use no alternate fingerings, does this mean that each given note is to have the same fingering no matter what the circumstances? OR...are you just restricted to using certain fingerings on certain scales? For example must you ALWAYS use left-hand B on your D scale, but use right-hand B on your E scale? Must you ALWAYS use fork low Eb on your Bb scale?
3 - What are your mandated fingerings for the following notes:
- low B/clarion F#
- low Eb/clarion Bb
- low E/clarion B
- low F/clarion C
- low F#/clarion C#
The purpose of these questions is to determine whether your restrictions on fingerings are absolute, or whether they are situational.
Knowing these things would help us better respond to your query. In your next lesson, you might want to note specific situations where your instructor corrects your fingering.
Allen Cole
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Author: BobD
Date: 2003-05-27 12:59
Students will do anything to avoid practicing their assignments
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Author: Sue
Date: 2003-05-27 20:10
Hannah,
It sounds like your teacher is not going to "give in" on this issue for whatever reason. If you are happy with the lessons so far, by all means continue but I would slowly start looking around for another teacher, you are the one paying for lessons and you should feel comfortable with his teaching philosophy.
Good Luck!
Sue
Post Edited (2003-05-27 20:27)
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