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Re: ageing

Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2018-11-28 01:59

I think I am in Karl's camp on this.
I am now 81 and as posted some weeeks back have had problems in covering the 1st and 3rd finger holes on RH and even a tendency for LH1 sometimes to slide down slightly. My hands have become very "slippery" and after seeing another post I also realised my finger prints had almost disappeared.
Great for crime scenes, but not so good for keeping the fingers firmly on nthe holes.

Slight arthritis in both pinkies is a growing problem.
Hearing is obviously not so brilliant now but doesn't seem to be a problem.
Yes tongue is definitely not as agile.

In my mid 70s I started moving myself down from the solo position, happy to be no.2 then no. 3
Fortunately a start of this year the bass clarinet position became vacant and I jumped at that. In terms of breath and finger strength even more demanding, but the plateau keywork is a boon and the semi quavers are fewer and further apart.

I am greatly enjoying the new sound perspective from being in the middle of the band, and great to let the younger players get on with the demi-semi quavers.

My final fall back position is now in plan.
When everything else has failed, I have my secret weapon, my alto clarinet, to fall back on. (no one else seems to be clamouring for that position!!)

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ageing new

Philip Caron

2018-11-27 19:54