The Clarinet BBoard

Re: Learning LH vs RH B-C# keys

Author: WhitePlainsDave  Date:   2017-06-11 18:54 "Somewhere along the line a band director told us that if it was hard to reach the RH middle C you could use the left hand, which is easier to reach. I have always played that way and it has not hindered me in any way (there are just some passages I have practice the normal way because of fingerings, but there would be the other way, too)." In principal, I take no issue with either a beginning student, particular one of young age where full hand growth may have not yet occurred, and finger span is limited, or an elderly or disabled one with joint issues do this, (Aside: my daughter's cello teacher is teaching a disabled student to play right finger board/left bow cello) nor do I take issue with the player of many years, simply happy at the level at which they play that they feel this it is not an obstacle to play with these notes only effected by one particular pinky, all the time. If you're happy at your level of play, I'm happy at your level of play. --- But that said, anything beyond beginning play of the instrument will involve you having to use both pinkies for some notes (even if just one of those fingers, not both--and even the latter has exceptions discussed below.) Poster "clarinetguy," talks, if I glean correctly, for example, of learning to take the with the right hand/pinky. (editor's note: I am wrong about the above sentence: I misread "clarinetguy," which does not make the below any less relevant) For most clarinets, this is the only pinky that can play the note. Some of the newer and more expensive models of clarinets do though have the ability to take this note with either pinky. This said, and to keep this simple, noting there are MANY other examples, let's suppose the player is tasked to play the notes , , and in quick succession. Further, let's make the realistic assumption that said player is void an instrument with a left pinky key. That said, the only way to reasonably play this progression is to start with the right pinky playing the , even though left and right levers are available, so the left pinky can play the --again, even though left and right levers are available, so the right pinky can play the , which for most instruments, only the right pinky is furnished a lever. It is for this reason, and note I teach late H.S. early college advanced players, that I have them take assigned etudes, deliberately, with either pinkies when there is a choice---as some music doesn't present that choice....yes even the players with option to play with either pinky. And I do so to make them not simply better more versatile players, but better future teachers of the craft as well. Beyond the scope of your question and reasonable limits of a thread, there are, as eluded to above, many other examples of why, eventually, both pinkies must be able to play such notes beyond the beginner level, even such that advanced players often learn of common patterns (and to read ahead in music) so as to, for example, take the with the left pinky (for example, when playing in the key of Eb), not because it is or isn't easier, but because they have to, because a right pinky non-optional quickly and immediately follows: say in an arpeggio in this key signature. Far beyond the scope of your initial question, unless you are interested, lies situations where music may call upon us to slide down with the right pinky, or even switch pinkies in the middle of voicing that very note, or finger notes a particular way based on music, key signatures, what came immediately before the note in music (if anything), and what lies immediate ahead (if anything). Stanley Drucker, legendary former principle clarinetist of the NY Philharmonic, taught before left pinky keys were available on instruments, requested his be removed. Post Edited (2017-06-11 19:40)

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Re: Learning LH vs RH B-C# keys

Author: Musikat  Date:   2017-06-11 20:06 "I'm puzzled to hear that a student can't reach RH F/C and so they're initially taught to use LH for it. Which E/B does the student then use? If they're playing a scale, which is likely, then C on the left must mean B on the right. However, RH B is at least has hard to reach as RH C - no?" Philip, the RH E/B is on the bottom row of the four keys and, at least for me, less of a stretch than the top right key for F/C. It is more natural to reach the E/B on the right for me than on the left, which is also a top key and more of a stretch. I do know how to use both ways and will note for myself when I have to do that, but I don't find the situation very often, even in pretty advanced music, where that is the case. I never even thought of the arpeggio situation with C-Eb (or F-Ab) being a must for the LH F/C, because i never have a problem with it. Guess I don't need to invest in one of the more expensive clarinets that give you that option from the right. LOL

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Re: Learning LH vs RH B-C# keys

Author: kdk  Date:   2017-06-11 22:20 Personally, I avoid using RH B if I can - even sliding most of the time L-L for B-C# in fast B-C#-D# passages, not because RH B is a stretch but because my RH pinky often bumps into the C key on its way up from B to D# (Eb). Trying to go up first, then over takes too long, though I do it if the notes are slow enough. If you play long enough you end up deciding for yourself which bad habits to adopt. Karl

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