Author: Tony Pay ★2017
Date: 2016-03-04 15:25
A better approach is to think of using SLOW finger movement -- unless faster movement is required.
Others previously here have said, or have implied, that thinking of playing 'with relaxed fingers' is more important than thinking of playing 'with slow fingers'. But if you practise using slow finger movements, then it is immediately obvious where that doesn't work at a particular point. Then, 'fast' overrides 'slow' in a much more natural way.
That's because the fast/slow requirement is an OBJECTIVE PROPERTY OF THE OUTSIDE WORLD, independent of the player.
Of course, relaxation may RESULT from thinking of slow movement. But very often, muscular opposition may be needed in order to provide an appropriate fast finger movement, and if that opposition isn't present at the required moment, the movement won't be successful.
There is an analogy between this situation and the use of 'support' in blowing the clarinet. Clearly, the use of support ties up energy in muscular opposition; so you don't want to OVERsupport.
But the truth is that some passages require a high degree of support, whereas some are better played without much support.
The blanket instruction to 'play with fingers relaxed' corresponds to the blanket instruction, 'play without support'. Therefore, it fails in the same way.
Here, instead of trying to work out whether your fingers SHOULD be relaxed or not, you can find out where being relaxed is useful, and where it isn't.
Tony
|
|
The Clarinet BBoard
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
