Author: jhoyla
Date: 2009-01-14 07:22
Amy wrote:
"Keeping my finger on the G key; that's definitely my problem."
Depends if your problem is inaccurate positioning of the finger, or a question of strength and/or leverage. Can you work it out on your own? Every time you blow a dud note, freeze, and look at yourself in the mirror. Is your LH ring-finger positioned correctly, sealing the tiny hole in the center of the key?
Are you touching the G# touch when you play G or below? If so, and if the F#-G# connection isn't perfectly regulated, it will stop the low notes from speaking.
Since you have a split-E, there will be a much bigger hole to cover with your RH ring-finger. Are you having trouble there, too?
If the pads of your fingers have particularly hard skin this may pose a problem also. Use hand-cream to soften your skin, but make sure you wash your hands before you play.
Have you tried dropping your elbows? you will have to get used to the new position (paticularly LH 2nd Octave key), but it should help "lengthen" your ring-finger, relative to your index and middle fingers.
It is said of m. Gillet that every time he made a mistake he would analyze why it happened, and then design a specific, personalized exercise that would help him remove this fault from his playing. He would never practice anything fast - instead, he practiced everything slowly and perfectly, every time. Once, the great Stokowski asked him how fast he could play the hair-raising solo passages in Ravel's "Le Tombeau de Couperin". "As fast as you can conduct it, Maestro!" was the immediate reply. And he could, too.
Your squashy rubber balls should be looking quite tatty by now .. :-)
J.
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