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How do you teach playing the "A" key?

Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2005-11-01 12:36

I have attempted to reinvent myself (oh no not again!??!) since January. To that end I had settled on making finger motion as efficient as possibe. I used slow interupted scales (c,d,e,f........d,e,f,g, etc.) in front of a mirror and found a poor movement to the A key.

I recall being told to "roll" to the key. Apparently teachers wish to avoid the inefficient movement of "finger up, finger across, finger down." Here's a weird observation. I saw a "big name" European player in a "big name" orchestra make this move in striking fashion in an adagio to something or other. Observations of other good players in fast passages show a simple pivot from the base of the finger in a lateral motion.

So, is it ok to tell a student to "roll" if that is not what actually happens?

Any thoughts from the pedagogical perspective or simply one as a player would be greatly appreciated.

.............blowing hot air,

......................Paul Aviles

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Re: How do you teach playing the "A" key?

Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2005-11-01 14:24

Paul -

Almost everyone was taught to "roll that finger" onto the A key. This is certainly more efficient than lifting the finger, moving it up and putting it down, but beginners are tempted to overdo it. I've seen many young players who roll their entire left hand up, which is about as inefficient as you can get.

I think a better image is to "nudge" the A key with side of your finger, making the smallest possible movement. It may help to "roll" a bit, but only with the finger, and not the hand or wrist.

Watching in a mirror is always helpful, and particularly so in learning this.

In slow passages, of course, you can make and fancy gestures you like.

Ken Shaw

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Re: How do you teach playing the "A" key?

Author: Katrina
Date: 2005-11-01 14:48

Here's what I do in my own playing:

I have my fingers slanted so that my index finger is just about touching the A key even when I'm playing, say, an E. This way I "rock" up to play the A and can immediately go back to another note...

I try to teach my students this and frequently they can pick up on it fairly quickly.

Katrina
the "rocker" not the "roller"

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Re: How do you teach playing the

Author: Steve Epstein
Date: 2005-11-01 22:08

On my C, I need to roll (or rock) my finger more deliberately, otherwise I find my finger still partially covering the first tone hole, because of the smaller spacing on the C vs Bb, and my hands aren't even all that big.

Steve Epstein

Post Edited (2005-11-01 22:09)

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