Clarinet Teaching Blog
Keep your Balance
Have you ever been in this painful situation?
You’re in a dress rehearsal for a big concert.
Halfway through the rehearsal, your right hand and arm feel so tense that you’re not
sure you can keep playing.
Remember that it shouldn’t hurt to play clarinet.
When students come to me with a story like this one, the first thing I look at is their
right hand position. Since the weight of the instrument is held up by the right thumb,
maintaining a good right hand position is crucial to playing in a relaxed, efficient way.
COMMON MISTAKES
Thumb position – here, the angle of the thumb is set so that the
fingernail is facing straight up
Look at the thumb position – very weak and strained. This can be really
hard on your thumb and wrist
See how this position also forces the fingers into a cramped position?
Ouch!
Using fingers to balance the instrument – early on in learning clarinet, many will allow
their fingers to help support the weight of the clarinet. Here are a few examples that I
see most often
Index finger under the side key
puts the fingers in a cramped position, making it difficult to open and close
the holes correctly.
1st, 2nd, and 3rd fingers positioned with a “squeeze hold,” resting on
the lower ring key
this also cramps the fingers, making the entire hand tense. Fingers
can’t open and close the holes in the right way
Pinky under the pinky keys
very tough to play with good technique if your pinky is locked straight
and under the keys
All of these problems are just an attempt to help the thumb hold the clarinet – trying to
make 2 wrongs = 1 right. But the balance is so unstable that whenever you need to move
your hand for other fingerings (using the side key or the pinky keys, for example), your
instrument is going to wiggle around! If the instrument moves in this way, you can’t play
with fluid technique and your tone is inconsistent.
If you want to play better and without pain, make your thumb, fingers, hand and arm do
ONLY the job they are supposed to do.
GOOD RIGHT HAND POSITION
Thumb position – place your thumb under the thumb rest so that the
fingernail is facing you
this allows your wrist and forearm to provide the strength needed to
support the instrument
use your thumb to push the clarinet up toward your top teeth. Don’t let
it simply hang on your thumb
1st finger, 2nd and 3rd fingers
the fingers are able to remain rounded – not collapsed along the side of
the clarinet
pinky – allow it to remain rounded, over the F/C key
You should be able to feel the key very lightly, without actually pushing the key down
when the pinky is rounded, you can operate all of the pinky keys with very relaxed
movement
The clarinet was built for this hand position. It’s amazing how much easier
it is to play when every part of your hand and arm are doing their job!
Notice how the fingers move to open and close the holes – using the large
knuckle. They can move so much more freely this way! The pinky can reach
all of the pinky keys and stay rounded, not locked straight.
CHANGE TAKES TIME
If you’re working on adjusting your hand position, be patient! Changing bad habits to good
habits takes time, but it is really worth it. Here are some suggestions:
Consider using a neckstrap – at least for a little while.
this takes the weight off of your thumb so that you can make adjustments
more easily
if you’re not used to pushing the clarinet up into your mouth, a neckstrap can
really help
Use medical tape to help your fingers stay rounded
the tape tells you when you’re trying to go back to old habits. You’ll feel a gentle
pull that immediately lets you know to keep them rounded