The Clarinet BBoard

The Clarinet BBoard The C4 standard

New Topic | Go to Top | Go to Topic | Search | Help/Rules | Smileys/Notes | Log In

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Stages in Adoption in left pinkie EbD#/AbG# lever

Author: SecondTry
Date: 2021-06-07 01:02

...so I took the plunge and purchased Wesley Rice's retrofit left pinkie EbD#/AbG# lever for my R13.

https://www.clarinet-repairs.com/alteflatkey.html

I consider myself reasonably handy, including in the clarinet repair space--but am by no means qualified to be a professional repair person--and found the installation pretty straight forward.

Perfecting the installation--and I'll explain what I mean by that in a moment--took a little more tweaking over a couple of sessions. I noticed that the right pinky Eb/D#/Ab/G# lever was ever so slightly more cumbersome to actuate once the installation was complete: at best only being an issue I can overcome in places like some trills in the opening of Rhapsody in Blue.

I suspect I'll get use to it--and considering this key is carrying more load now moving the new lever and all--and considering I can always play this trill now with my left pinky---I suspect my issue isn't much.

I've noticed that there are stages in the adoption of this new key--and by no means am I taking issue with its placement or ownership. It has to be close enough actuate, and yet far enough from the existing left pinky C#Db/F#Gb and B/E keys to not be confused by the player.

Certain mental mnemonics have proven useful it hitting the correct key with my left pinky, including exaggerating how far left the C#Db/F#Gb key is, and imagining placing my left pink over a barrel to actuate the B/E key. Adaption is definitely coming.

But another stage in adaption, which I am finding will take longer, is learning to take advantage of this key. My muscle memory is so use to mid note pinky swaps on certain staple etudes/key signatures so as to be able to line myself up to play a right pinky AbG#/EbD#, that it will take time to recognize that I can relax in certain note sequences regarding the order of pinkies to take it with.

Ideally I'd like to learn to take advantage of the new key but not forget how to do mid note pinky swaps.

I suspect I'll do this by practicing both ways, just as I do now alternative fingers of notes.

Has anyone else adapted this key or a clarinet with one with stories to tell?

Reply To Message

Avail. Forums | Threaded View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

The Clarinet Pages

For Sale
Put your ads for items you'd like to sell here. Free! Please, no more than two at a time - ads removed after two weeks.