 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Hans
Date: 2001-10-08 21:10
Well, after a lot of trying out different handpositions, I am still experiencing a severe problem with my right hand pink when I move downward to Eb. Not only my pink but also the fourth finger is problematic, I cannot bring them down on the same moment. Sometimes the fourth finger tip reaches far over the hole and thus does not cover it well enough. Somehow I think I cannot coordinate them very well indepently.What can I do?
Thanks in advance!
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Author: Peter
Date: 2001-10-09 02:04
A schoolmate of mine had a similar problem due to poor finger dexterity, which happens, but can usually be overcome if you are willing to work at it.
Our music teacher set him up on a piano, where his thumb, index and middle fingers would hold down middle C, D and E, while the ring finger and the pinky worked, both simultaneously and separately, up and down to play F and G.
In between that, he would have him do the entire middle C scale just to make all the fingers work out separately as well. His problem was more than just the two fingers you are having trouble with.
The idea was that the motions required to do the piano excercise were similar to the ones required to play the clarinet, but with the piano excercise he could hear whether the finger action was giving him the desired result without distracting him with proper embouchure, air column, and all the other things you need to keep straight in order to play the clarinet.
He worked hard at it, and it took him some time, but he developed the dexterity in his fingers to do whatever was required of him to play woodwinds.
There is also a finger strengthning work-out device that is for guitar players and has individual spring-loaded buttons on which you can work your fingers simultaneously or individually.
That could also help you develop a dextrous motion with your two "trouble" fingers.
Work at it, you can do it!
Hope this helps you.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2001-10-09 14:25
"Sometimes I feel like" I'm on a crusade re: the thumbrest location problem, and suggest an inexpensive way to find out, and a possible solution , which works for me beautifully. I suggest Search the Phorum, for the many posts. Don
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-10-09 14:25
Some models have lousy positions for spatula keys. I think Selmer Bundy is one of these. See how your hands fit other makes.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-10-09 15:51
Have you had an experienced teacher review your hand position? Once you are sure that it is correct (not only the location of the thumb and other fingers but also the correct amount of arch in the fingers), then do various *SLOW* drills to work on both the coordination and independent movement of these fingers. It is not easy. It is one of the things that many experienced players have to go back and drill on sometimes.
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Author: beejay
Date: 2001-10-09 16:40
The Klose mechanical exercises include several dealing with this very problem. I have it too.
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Author: Hans
Date: 2001-10-09 23:29
Thanks everyone! I live in rural Mexico and have no teacher. There are days that everything works just fine but suddenly problems start.........it is difficult not to loose my pacience.......this makes it even worse. I do not feel it is a problem with the thumbrest, it seems to be -as many of you indicate- more a problem of coordination between the last two fingers and a problem of bending-arching them correctly. But it is frustrating, even more without a teacher nearby. I feel much more at ease knowing that more people had and have the same problem. I sure hope I can solve it.
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2001-10-10 07:13
Try to use fingers big not small is a Chales Neidich's advice in his book, whereas many, including me before reading, thinks it is better to set fingers at the same distance from the keys and use fingers small. This is not his limited opinion. I read the same advice in Louis Moyse flute exercise book adding that every finger has a different weight, inertia, and mustle power.
Kalmen Opperman's 'Modern Clarinet Technique' has a RH only exercises.
But you can devise your own exercise tunes for free: All the good practice books are made at first for the authors' personal practices, I believe.
Another advice by Kalmen Opperman in Clarinet Magazine was practice, wrongly often neglected, chromatic scale often. That includes everything. He wrote.
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2001-10-10 07:19
http://mypage.uniserve.ca/~lwk/rpinky.htm
Although this is an example for flute, you can devise a same kind of exercise by yourself. Everyone has the same problem. IMHO.
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Author: jmcaulay
Date: 2001-10-10 18:22
Hans, I'm sorry you have not yet been able to resolve your difficulty. Perhaps the new information offered in this thread may help -- some postings seem to be very good suggestions.
I have a problem with my right pinky which I hope will be resolved next week, when I have ulnar nerve surgery. It'll keep me from playing for quite a while, and full recovery may take months, but I look forward to correcting my problem.
Good luck with yours.
John
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