Now that I'm getting back into playing, after a loooong break (20 yrs) I'm trying to develop the other fingerings.Alternate B-flat thumb fingering
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I used it so much, my tutor wanted to disable the thumb lever! It was a pet peeve of his with me. He did say that I had one of the smoothest slide-overs on the thumb that he'd ever seen though. Now that I'm getting back into playing, after a loooong break (20 yrs) I'm trying to develop the other fingerings.
Now that I'm getting back into playing, after a loooong break (20 yrs) I'm trying to develop the other fingerings.-
Bryony-Jane
- Posts: 21
- Joined: Mon Mar 27, 2006 4:31 am
- Location: England
I was taught the one on one fingering for Bb and don't particularly like the thumb key fingering.
My flute teacher when I was doing my grade 8 wanted told me I had to use the thumb key in a specific passage in the third movement of the Poulenc flute sonata. She wanted me to play this passage to her using the thumb key then using my normal fingering for Bb.....however because I don't like, and don't feel comfortable using the thumb key I played it the same way both times; the one on one fingering. She never noticed and then said 'see isn't it so much better with the the thumb key?' !!!!
I had the same incident (different piece, different person) in my 2nd year at uni and they never noticed that when asked to I wasn't playing with the thumb key and then went raving about how good it sounded and how much easier it was with the thumb key!
My flute teacher when I was doing my grade 8 wanted told me I had to use the thumb key in a specific passage in the third movement of the Poulenc flute sonata. She wanted me to play this passage to her using the thumb key then using my normal fingering for Bb.....however because I don't like, and don't feel comfortable using the thumb key I played it the same way both times; the one on one fingering. She never noticed and then said 'see isn't it so much better with the the thumb key?' !!!!
I had the same incident (different piece, different person) in my 2nd year at uni and they never noticed that when asked to I wasn't playing with the thumb key and then went raving about how good it sounded and how much easier it was with the thumb key!
The one and one fingering works in all situations, but is the most difficult to use, which is why we learn it first. To be able use the other two B-flat fingerings, you MUST practice them, otherwise they will feel too awkward to you to be of any use. Playing scales with the other B-flats is particularly helpful. You'll find, in general, that thumb B-flat is the best for the keys of F, B-flat, E-flat, and A-flat major (high G-flats require the single thumb key) and the B-flat lever works well for keys with A-sharp and B, such as B and F-sharp major.
You'll find that you'll naturally use these other fingerings quite frequently once you get the hang of them through practice (which make take a few months.) You'll then find that you are a greater master of the flute than you were before, and you maybe be subject to increased good luck, better health, longer life, and increases in wealth (perhaps after learning thumb B-flat, you'll win a lottery!)
You'll find that you'll naturally use these other fingerings quite frequently once you get the hang of them through practice (which make take a few months.) You'll then find that you are a greater master of the flute than you were before, and you maybe be subject to increased good luck, better health, longer life, and increases in wealth (perhaps after learning thumb B-flat, you'll win a lottery!)