Tag: finger technique

Woodwind doubling and “similar” fingerings

Jun 17, 2012

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in Woodwind playing and pedagogy

for Woodwind doubling

Some of the questions I am most frequently asked about woodwind doubling involve the similarities in fingerings between the instruments: “You play all those instruments? Well, I guess the fingerings must be pretty much the same, right?” “I play the oboe, and I would like to learn the saxophone. How close are the fingerings?” There …
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Getting an “outsider” opinion

May 20, 2012

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in Musicianship

Photo, Pirate Scott Saxophones, more than many other instruments, have a tendency toward mechanical noise: clicks and clanks are a hazard of the relatively large keys and articulated mechanisms and of the relative popularity of “vintage” instruments. Much of the noisiness can be solved by a good technician, but it’s sometimes surprising how much key …
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Rediscovering the clarinet’s left-hand sliver key

Mar 18, 2012

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in Woodwind playing and pedagogy

for Clarinet

I think for many doublers the clarinet’s left-hand “sliver” key seems useless or problematic. For example, the sliver key is easy to press by mistake when intending to cover the middle and/or ring finger holes. And even when reaching for the sliver on purpose, it’s easy to accidentally cover part of the ring finger hole, …
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Full-range scales and arpeggios

Mar 6, 2012

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in Woodwind playing and pedagogy

My students at the university are subject to a department-wide requirement to pass a scale exam, in which they must demonstrate mastery of major and minor scales. The format of the scales, however, is left up to the individual studio professors. Most of the studios require scales to be played in octaves, but I prefer …
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Information overload: oboe F fingerings

May 23, 2010

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in Woodwind playing and pedagogy

for Oboe

The oboe typically plays Fs in three octaves. The lower two have a variety of available fingerings, which can be a challenge for new oboists to navigate, particularly because the available fingerings change depending upon the make of the instrument. A typical “budget” student model instrument, for example, uses the following fingerings. (For all fingerings …
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Clarinet pinky fingerings

Sep 6, 2009

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in Woodwind playing and pedagogy

for Clarinet

Recently I discussed the topic of clarinet “pinky” (little finger) fingerings with my woodwind methods class. With all that school band directors have on their plates, it’s not surprising that this topic doesn’t always get taught thoroughly to beginners. It can be a bit of a puzzle to a non-clarinetist, but the important concepts can …
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Tag: finger technique

Woodwind doubling and “similar” fingerings

Getting an “outsider” opinion

Rediscovering the clarinet’s left-hand sliver key

Full-range scales and arpeggios

Information overload: oboe F fingerings

Clarinet pinky fingerings