 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Sue G
Date: 2003-09-24 20:56
Hi,
I'm still pretty much a novice at playing my clarinet and was just wondering if being left handed is hampering my playing as I seem to struggle with notes requiring my right little finger - not actually covering the keys as such but can't get much speed up on those notes!!!
Any other players fortunate enough to be left handed ???
In most other tasks I find being left handed is a bonus but not so sure it is when playing the clarinet !
Welcome any views or tips to assist with my "little" problem !!!
Thanks
Sue
:)
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Author: msloss
Date: 2003-09-24 21:03
Being a lefty has never been an issue for me, with the exception of having to build up strength in the right arm to hold up the instrument when I was a kid. To be successful on the clarinet, you have to be effectively ambidextrous. You will have very uneven technique if you don't develop flexibility and precision in all 9 moving fingers.
Play lots of scales every day and you'll be fine.
Now, drinking fountains, doors, scissors, can openers... that's a whole other thing.
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Author: Douglas
Date: 2003-09-24 21:05
You will find that on the clarinet, you need to be "both" handed...that is, ambidextrous. The right little finger has four keys to play and the left little finger also has four keys to play, so it seems the key setup is fair to both left and right handed people. As usual, the solution everyone is given for technical shortcomings is: practice, practice, practice.
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Author: Rick Williams
Date: 2003-09-24 21:27
Hi Sue:
I'm left handed and being left handed hasn't been an issue for me. As pointed out the clarinet is pretty equal opportunity for either wrong handed (righties) or the higher evolutionary achiement known as left handed.
Work on your scales and practice to build up speed in the pinky, it will come with time and effort.
Best
RW
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Author: clarinetwife
Date: 2003-09-24 21:48
Hi, Sue--
I am also left handed. I think it has been a benefit playing the piano and not a problem playing the clarinet. I think independent movement of the fingers is more of an issue than which is the dominant hand. When your ring finger wants to move naturally as you move the pinkie, your speed and fluidity is affected. Scale and trill practice, among other things, encourages the fingers to move independently of each other. So, keep working at it--it will come.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-09-24 22:27
Very well said above, just like it takes 2 to tango [or ?tangle?], the only [ordinarily] unused digit is the rt thumb, and like the bassoon is a horn for 4 ? thumbs, extended-range insts use the rt T also. Yup, practicex3. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Dee
Date: 2003-09-25 00:32
Besides "righties" have the same problems with those notes and keys as you describe. The right hand holes and keys are larger and farther apart than the ones for the left hand. It takes more practice to be sure that you are always covering the holes completely, etc.
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Author: Tom Piercy
Date: 2003-09-25 00:45
Also left handed here.....
With all the incredibly nimble work needed in the left hand in the throat tone area, I think that perhaps being a lefty could be an advantage.
also a lefty....
Tom Piercy
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-09-25 03:58
I have two hands and am proud of both.
However, my right hand is the dominant one, and my greatest difficulty with the Clarinet is manipulating those keys with R4. Ulnar nerve problem didn't help that situation, but now that it's pretty well resolved, I still am not as good with R4 as with L4.
I've seen photographs of old left-handed Clarinets and wondered if they helped anyone.
Regards,
John
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Author: CharmOne
Date: 2003-09-25 04:55
Sue~
I have the problem of the opposite. I'm more comfortable on my right than on my left at first when I first start out. It took time as much as a month to train my lefty to be almost equal to my right. But, now that I have played for nine months, the few troubles I have now is that freaking sightreading and fingering the notes as I play at the same time!!!! Don't worry, just keep practicing ur skills and take breaks if needed. You'll do fine
CharmOne
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Author: Sue G
Date: 2003-09-25 20:17
Thanks folks for your advice and encouragement as ever.
I'll keep working at it !
Actually it is getting better ...............slowly !!!
Thanks again
Sue
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