| Author |
Subject |
jc
Registered User
(7/13/00 2:17:47 pm)
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Thumb
Position Question
I'm writing to this page because my
cello teacher is out of town for the summer and I need
help!
If I understand this correctly, in first (and other
positions) the knuckles are rounded with the fleshy part surrounding
the strings(correct me if I'm wrong here) to produce good
tone.
In thumb position, to keep the hand rounded in correct
position I can't keep the first knuckle joint curved as my nail
grows right to the edge of my fingers and prevents the fleshy parts
from surrounding the strings. Hence, my tone is terrible in thumb
position!
My nails are cut to the quick as it is and I can't
get them any shorter without bleeding!
Is it ok to have the
first knuckles concave in thumb position?
I don't want to get
into any bad habits and as a beginner that is always a risk with a
teacher out of town.
Can all you educators and professionals
give me your opinions and advice?
Any help would be greatly
appreciated!
Thanks!
J C
|
Victor
Sazer
Registered
User
(7/14/00 5:41:04 pm)
|
Thumb
P.
It might help if you use your thumb
only when you us it to playing a note with it. Otherwise, do not
hold it down or necessarily keep your other fingers in a stationary
position.
You may also find it easier to play if you use
each of your fingers one at a time (except of course, when you play
double stops). It is helpful to allow your forearm to rotate or move
forward and back to accommodate each playing finger.
The
more fingers you hold down, the harder it is to play. This is
something like walking; you go from one foot to the other but both
feet are never on the ground at the same time.
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jc
Registered User
(7/14/00 6:18:44 pm)
|
Re:
Thumb Position Question
Thank you. This is very helpful. I
was trying to
hold all the fingers down when, for example,
I
played the third finger.
Is it ok then, to have the first
finger knuckle joint
concave as I play it, since my nail is in
the way
when the finger is upright playing the string?
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Victor
Sazer
Registered
User
(7/15/00 1:32:05 pm)
|
Thumb,
etc.
It is no tragedy if your first
finger knuckle is concave, but I think you will have more freedom of
movement and control if it is not. When possible, try lifting your
arm (thumb and all) or moving it toward the scroll as you use your
first finger. This will to allow more room for your first finger so
it can function more freely. Allow your whole arm and hand unit to
participate as you go from finger to finger, rather than just using
your fingers and maintaining a position.
You might also
try playing on the side of the string instead of centering your
finger on the top surface and holding the string down. To do this,
rest your finger on the wood between the upper strings and on the
low side of the C string and touch the side of the string, using no
more effort than necessary.
Approach the fingerboard from
above rather than coming up from below. You can do this by extending
your arm up in the air above the note that you wish to play and
quickly bringing your arm down to touch the fingerboard. (This will
often help establish a good alignment for your arm.) You may lean
your finger toward the string or pull the string gently toward the
side.
Contrary to common practice, the string does not have
to touch the fingerboard except when you play pizzicato. If you
experiment with this approach, you may increase your facility and
improve your vibrato.
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jc
Registered User
(7/16/00 6:10:25 pm)
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Re:
Thumb, etc.
Thank you very much! This is very
helpful. Especially
the part about coming from above the note. I
recently
read the book, The Cellists Inner Voice and
they
described it as coming from behind forward. I have
your
book and wish that my teacher as analytically thoughtful
as you
are. As a beginner, I am finding thumb position
very hard, but
this is quite helpful and the only thing to do is to keep at it
until it is natural and without stress.
Thanks again!
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