 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: rbell96
Date: 2003-12-13 14:47
Hi Everyone,
I was just wondering how I can go about working on my fingers. My hands seem to be really tense when I play and it is not helping at all. I have been using the Perier 331 Excersises but my hands still seem very tense.
I have a sling which takes the weight off a bit but it still is very tense.
Thanks,
Rob
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Author: Snowy
Date: 2003-12-13 23:11
There will be many on this list better qualified than I but my 2c worth :-
1. Check that all pads are sealing properly,
2.commence your practise sessions with l o n g sustained notes. In fact, if you play such from 2nd space A downwards being careful to seat each finger snugly to its ring or hole you will expose any leaks
3. commence the exercises s l o w l y.
Please let us know how you go
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2003-12-14 02:38
I'm not sure what to suggest other than vigilance. As you put your clarinet in your mouth, relax your fingers. This should be after long rests in band/orchestra pieces (for one example), and after each time you take your instrument out of your mouth, when it goes back in, relax your hands. This kind of mental practice can create the NEW habit of relaxed fingers over time. Basically, you're looking to replace the tense hands habit with the relaxed hands habit. That can take time...be kind to yourself and every time you notice the tense hands, take yourself like a small child straying off the path in a garden and tell yourself to relax them. I know that last bit sounds a little "new age," but you don't want to bully yourself either...
Katrina
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Author: elmo lewis
Date: 2003-12-14 18:44
It helps to remember that you don't need to push the keys down-the dead weight of your finger is enough to operate the keys without any muscle power.
The closer your fingertip is to the key the harder it is to use muscle power and tension to operate the key.
Tension can migrate to the fingers from the back, shoulders, neck, arms or wrists-make sure that the whole body is relaxed.
If the reed is so hard that you are fighting to produce a sound, this will also produce tension in the whole body.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2003-12-15 14:07
Rob -
There's a good thread at http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=126088&t=125922 .
Two things in particular that have helped me:
(1) Play scales in thirds around the circle of fifths. As you come down the sharp side, and things get easier, concentrate on letting your fingers float up and down.
(2) Use the Gonzalo Ruiz method I discussed in the earlier thread -- moving your fingers up quickly, with active muscle involvement, and letting them come down by relaxing your "up" muscles and letting your fingers drop only by gravity.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: David Oakley
Date: 2003-12-15 16:43
My teacher says (and I agree) that I have this problem also. My own observation is that I tend to grip the clarinet most tightly when I'm using the speaker key and trying to move at faster than quarter note speed. The underlying problem seems to be lack of support--I'm unconciously trying to force the note with the rest of my body to make up for support that the diaphragm is not providing.
The tenseness in the fingers also impedes speed, and leads to muffed notes when occasionally I don't seal the tonehole properly.
Fixing this is my current project--understanding and doing are still proving to be very different creatures.
David Oakley
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