Hi all!

Just had a few questions, changing from bassoon to recorder is slightly daunting as all of a sudden I don't know what my hands are meant to be doing! My thumbs are glad of the break, though

(1) Does the LH little finger serve a purpose?

(2) What do I do with said LH little finger?

(3) Should my thumbs be curved?

(4) What's the correct technique for low C#/F# and D#/G#? (C & F respectively)

Thanks in advance,

Isha

1. little finger doesnt really do anything i dont think. trying to imagine but it's very hard. it just kinda sits there, helps with balance i spose or something like that! (well I spose that 2. aswell)

3. do you mean curved back? like opposite way to the joint? that's how mine are but many people cannot bend their thumbs that way!

4. just cover one little hole with little finger or 4th finger for those notes. when playing chromatically you have to avoid sliding and perfect the wrist action to get a clean move from c-c#-d-d# or f-f#-g-g# respectively. ensure all the little hole is covered - that the finger is covering all of one hole securely but not blocking the other (i'm talking half the c/f d/g holes yes?)

Thanks for the reply recorderzrule.

(1) That's rather daunting to think that a finger doesn't have any function . I was also thinking "maybe it can help with balancing the instrument" but I'm at a loss as to how it would achieve this.

(2) Should I keep it raised? Should it rest on the recorder? Something else?

(3) I meant curved the way the joints go, as opposed to straight.

(4) I know the fingerings for the notes, I was hoping for a description of what my fingers/wrist should be doing? I don't have a recorder teacher or anyone else to show me what I should be doing

I'm no expert on this but my thoughts are

1) no purpose I'm aware of
2) keep it curved in line with the other ones
3) curved, keeping the thumb straight will probably prevent your hand being as relaxed as possible
4) really not sure if my technique is correct but I make the movement from my wrist, rotating the hand upwards

A great picture to shoe how to hold the recorder is on the front of Hottetere's book for recorder playing, when I can I will scan it in, if I can and will attatch it here.
I recently had a master class with Dan Laurin (if any one has heard of him) and he says that you should play with you fingers flat.

With answer to the specific questions:
1) The LH little finger does not do that much...I think that it is there basically for balance.

2) I just keep it out of the way. as it if had an 'imaginery' hole, but NEVER gets played! If you see what I mean! The RH little finger however when it is not being used should be placed on the ridge on the joint, before its double hole.

3) It is hard to describe how your thumbs should rest without showing. Your LH should be straight but flexible so it can move to get the higher register...it depends now you 'pinch' the thumb hole, I do NOT stick my thumb into the thumb hole as I have found that it damages the recorder around that hole, and I also can not due ot strange joints. The RH should dupport the recorder, and that should be straight...but not with the base of the thumb supporting your recorder but the 'side' of your thumb. By having your thumb like this it will be easier to play with straighter fingers. It may be uncomfortable at first..but this is apparently the way to hold your recorder...I had an hour lesson on JUST this stuff!!!! My joints were really hurting by the end of it!!!!!!!!!

4) For the double hole notes at hte bottom, to get from the full hole to the half hole I 'slide' my fingers.....try not to move my wrist but all the movement is from the finger joint by the knuckle.

I hope that this helps.........

How do you pinch the thumb hole then? I've never been shown or heard of another way.

I 'slide' it so there is a gap....but not too much of a gap. I have found that this produces a much smoother transition between the octaves. depending on the note you ahve to 'slide' it different amounts...if you know what I mean. I teach this way as well...and then I will show them the other method and they always prefer this one.....it also does not damage the thumb hole.

Here is the picture of Hotteterre holding a recorder how it should be (you can not see the thumbs though....sorry:



I hope that it works!!

Ahhh... I just had a try as my recorder was sitting there. I can certainly see that would be much easier especially when jumping across the break quickly. Will have to practice and see if I can do it that way. Also maybe I'm imagining it or maybe it's my recorder but I think it sounds nicer, which is good! Certainly different anyway, even if it's not a lot.

I am glad that it is OK......there are sometimes when you will have to 'pinch' more but that is on the higher notes...but generally I think that it is better, and it does save your recorder. Espcecially if you ahve spend lots of money on a nice wooden one!

the funny thing is I think that was how I was doing it near enough when I got my recorders out however many weeks ago it was, than thought "hold on, I'm doing that wrong" I think maybe it feels more natural than sticking your thumbnail in anyway... thanks ruthypegs!

No problem!!!

Thanks everyone for your helpful replies.

Does that mean my LH pinky should stay resting on the recorder? I'm finding this a trifle difficult when the rest of my LH is doing something but this might be habit.

Mine does not rest on the recorder when I am playing. Mine just 'floats' around not getting in the way. I have never been told otherwise when playing.

Jacques Hottettere Le Romain "Principles of the Flute, Recorder & Oboe" goes in to great detail how to hold the recorder, and has a chart of fingerings and trill fingerings.....it is very useful!

I'll need to look that one up, then.

Thanks Ruthypegs!

No problem!

sliding for the bottom holes is ok but there is a wrist technique my teacher taught me for doing them especially when playing chromatic scales. if you move your wrist from side to side so then when you're holding the recorder you should move from your wrist to change your finger position to avoid sliding and producing a kind of glissando effect! moving from the wrist gives a clearer junction between the notes rather than a messy slide

i hope this makes sense!!

p.s. just hold your left little finger out and it will move naturally when you play