 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Mario
Date: 2001-01-21 23:26
Here is my story: I first fell in love with our beloved instrument at age 13 watching Steve Allen play the part of Benny Goodman in "The Benny Goodman Strory" and then manifested the desire to learn the clarinet. So I took music lessons all through my High School years and did my College studies in music, taking fantastic lessons from the Bass Clarinet player of the Montreal Symphonic Orchestra. Life had something else in store for me thereafter and I had to put away my instrument for almost 30 years. In December 2000 I made myself a gift and bought an excellent Yamaha Instrument. I practiced the best way I could for a year and am now taking lessons again with a teacher that learned from my former teacher's son (André Moisan from Montréal). It is very exciting and very rewarding to progress each week a little more.
My biggest problem now is to keep relaxed fingers when playing. I have a tendancy to squeeze my clarinet to the point that my fingers get very tired quite fast. Any tips on how to keep my fingers from "crushing" my instrument ? I relax quite easily but whenever I play I cannot get my fingers to be "cool" and fluid. I also have a hard time keeping my fingers close to the wholes and keys and fully realise that this is a big obstacle on my speed, accuracy and fluidity. Thanking you in advance. Mario.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: John Gibson (the other one)
Date: 2001-01-22 00:17
Congratulations on getting back to your clarinet after all those years. My guess is that it is not only your fingers that are not relaxed. Tension can show up in other places such as your throat - closing up the air way; your embouchure - restricting the reed and producing a pinched sound; and so on. A good posture and correct hand position really helps, but it is mostly mind over matter. When you practice take your tension temperature every now and then. If it is up there, then stop, do some stretching exercises or some other relaxation technique and get back to practicing. It never really goes away, but you can control it. You might try using a neck strap to take the weight off your right hand.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Todd
Date: 2001-01-22 01:58
I also congratulate you on starting lessons again. I started up again this past June. It had been 23 years since my last private lesson. My teacher, who is very patient and understanding, has had to undo a lot of bad habits I'd formed. I'm so grateful to him.
Anyway, I agree with John--there are probably other areas that are not relaxed. My teacher has had to work with me on opening my throat, relaxing the shoulders, finger position, and relaxation of the fingers. My other problem is that I am a dentist so as a result of my profession, my fingers are very strong. However, I would put so much pressure on my clarinet that the tips of my fingers would turn white. It also slowed down my ability to play fast passages effectively, without it sounding too mechanical or labored. It took hours and hours of practice on scales and interval studies, but the tension in my fingers is finally going away. I keep in the back of my mind that my fingers should just float on the keys and be very light. Only apply as much pressure as is needed to close a hole or press the key down fully. The only pressure you should feel is in your right thumb since it is holding the clarinet.
I'm excited beyond words that I found a good teacher. I'm never been so excited to play scales and intervals to work on my technique and getting my fingers to relax. It takes time and just knowing that your fingers are tight, to get them to not be tense. Also, practice in front of a mirror. You'll see for yourself how tight your fingers and body are. Sorry this is so long, but I'm excited for you!
Todd
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ginny
Date: 2001-01-22 03:33
I have found the books "the Inner Game of Music" and "Inner Game of Tennis" very helpful in ridding me of some extra tension. It is very bad for physical activities such as the clarinet. Visualise your hands being made of soft butter or clay and then play. Tense them up too much and then go limp and play. Learn to feel what it is to be completely relaxed. You may wish to think about your neck, shoulders, back and all too. Many other techniques exist and may help you.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Anji
Date: 2001-01-22 14:28
Like you, I have tried to "Wring" notes out of the horn when playing.
This particularly happens in faster passages. Your experience is like mine, if you feel some tension in advance of more complicated passages.
David Pino's book was helpful to me, as a "heads up" for developmental problems.
Two things helped dramatically,
I replaced the standard thumbrest with the Ton Kooiman gizmo. It places the torque moment of force closer to the hand, away from the thumb tip. This immediately released most of the muscular tension required, just to hold up the horn. It also ADDS some girth to the horn (roughly 15mm) which I found much more comfortable. They also make a cheapo version which incorporates most of these same features. I think Twiggs could get one for you, or it is available mail order. <I tried, but did not like neck straps.>
The second thing that helped wasn't so obvious. My teacher has encoraged me to begin my practice of a piece at the most difficult point and work "outward" from there. She has me looking in the mirror when practicing (which was disturbing, at first). I found that when my brow furrows, my hands tense. Corny, but true in my case. Pino's book advocates practicing with a metronome, advancing the pace of the metronome "One click at a time." to reach the written tempo.
You must be commended on taking this up. You are blessed with a wonderful musical environment in a beautiful city. I think it's the smell from LaLoux that makes the music so good.
bon Chance!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2001-01-22 14:46
I would suggest, also, the practice of playing legato scales and intervals--where the fingers move to and from the keys slowly and smoothly with no "popping" sound. This is an old Bonade skill that I learned in college and is useful in developing expressive qualities in your perfromance. Might also help you to play with less tension in your grip. Good clarineting.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: beejay
Date: 2001-01-23 16:29
My teacher wants me to put my fingers down crisply, so that you see the marks of the rings on the finger-pads. He recommends this as a way of getting the notes into the memory. But at the same time, he tells me to lift my fingers as little as possible. The force, he says, should come from the joints where the fingers meet the hand.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mario
Date: 2001-01-24 20:12
A big thank you to you John, Todd, Ginny, Anji, William and beejay. Mario
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: mary
Date: 2001-01-26 22:09
Another way to get the relaxed fingers is to keep your left pinky on the E/B lever and your right pinky on the F/C key. Just let them lightly rest there, unless of course you're playing notes which require those pinkies. This limits how high your other fingers move (a nice by-product) and how much force you will play with.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
