The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Melanie
Date: 2002-03-02 06:51
I am a clarinet major at a university, and my biggest obsticle is fingerings. I know fingerings, and usually have no problems. But, my fingers (especially my pinkies) collapse quite frequently. I try to not allow them, but it seems impossible. Are there any excercises or tips that might help this?
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Author: Michael
Date: 2002-03-02 09:03
Finger weights. I do 20 curls a day. What a work out
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Author: IHL
Date: 2002-03-02 10:27
seriously, there is a product you can get to help excercise your fingers. See here:
http://www.clarinetharbor.com/2630054.html
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Author: BG
Date: 2002-03-02 14:32
I agree with IHL about the product listed above. I keep one in my accessory bag, use it regularly, and have recommended it to many other musician friends (including trumpet players)! You can exercise the hand, individual fingers, and fingers in various combinations at your own level of strength. I hope this helps you!
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Author: HAT
Date: 2002-03-02 14:33
Be careful about weights and devices. Some of them should be called tendinitis machines.
Practicing the piano is a MUCH more useful alternative. And you'll learn bass clef as well.
And practice all scales and arpeggios (the whole Baermann III book) at slow, sane tempos with a metronome.
David Hattner, NYC
www.northbranchrecords.com
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Author: Melanie
Date: 2002-03-03 03:31
I do play piano, but find some of the same problems. When using these devices, is there any specific thing that I should be careful of in order to avoid tendinitus? I already have some problems with my wrists, and I do not want to worsen the problem.
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Author: jez
Date: 2002-03-04 13:46
If your fingers 'collapse' then maybe you could change your hand position slightly. I have a tendency for the top joint of each finger to bend the wrong way and it can feel like they get stuck that way and stop me moving them. If the fingers are a bit more curved it stops this happening. Try lowering the wrists a bit and avoid playing with the fingers too flat.
Good luck,
jez
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Author: HAT
Date: 2002-03-04 13:50
Don't expect overnight miracles. Be patient. Once you get tendinitis, you'll spend the rest of your life dealing with it in one way or another.
Practice slowly and carefully and see what happens in 6 months.
David Hattner, NYC
www.northbranchrecords.com
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