Flexibility Dilema

July 9, 2011 at 12:23 AM

I've been practicing everyday in the summer in order to improve for when I go back to college to play in the Symphony. I have very short and fat fingers, but I've been able to play fairly well all the way up to 4th position. In 5th position however, my flexibility starts to diminish and by 6th and 7th position I've hit an invisible brick wall, my wrist and fingers simply refuse to go any further. This has been a dilemma for me since as a music minor, I need to be able to be proficient with 3 octave scales. To stretch my fingers further, I've actually been taking my thumb off of the the base of the neck and sliding it over to the right so it actually rests on the body of the instrument ( which has also posed a problem because it's a lot harder to scale down octaves this way) . I was just wondering, is there a way or technique for me to be able to use the entire finger board for once? I'm a muscular man and my thick wrists, large biceps and bulky forearms seem to really be working against my flexibility. Any helpful advice you have would be greatly appreciated.

From Diane Allen
Posted on July 13, 2011 at 1:47 PM

For higher positions I tend to focus on the left elbow. For example - find a note that just doesn't feel right. Keep your finger on that note and gently swing your left elbow from side to side until your hand and finger feels comfortable. When you find your favorite happy elbow place keep note of it and practice.

Of course a picture would help. My elbow suggestion is a broad idea based on experience and I don't know if it will help or not.

Smiles! Diane

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Flexibility Dilema

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