Posture for Recorder Players - Body alignment, Space, Embouchure, Support points, Fingers
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- Опубліковано 3 сер 2024
- In this second episode of my series Recorder Technique Essentials, I will go over general body alignment, space, embouchure, holding the recorder properly and finger position and shape. Don't forget to activate the subtitles if you prefer them!
Link to the document: lobke.world/documents
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Versión española de este vídeo (sub PT/IT): • Postura para flautista...
00:00:00 - intro
00:00:11 - general body alignment
00:02:05 - space
00:03:25 - embouchure
00:06:25 - support points
00:07:38 - inhaling
00:08:34 - practise 3rd support point
00:10:18 - finger position
00:10:56 - thumb position
00:11:52 - finger position conclusion
00:13:11 - posture summary
00:14:04 - semitones in right hand
00:14:56 - PDF & info
General body alignment:
If your body is aligned, you avoid unnecessary muscular tension. So: head over heart, heart over pelvis, Shoulders relaxed. Knees are not locked but loose. Stand with your feet hip-width apart, with your body weight evenly distributed upon both feet.
The recorder should be at an angle of 45 degrees, and straight in front of your body. Your elbows should hang down but should not be pressed into your body nor lifted, so that there is a little bit of space between your elbows and your torso.
Space:
When you play, your arms form an inner circle, be conscious of it.
Notice all the space around you, even under you. Feel how the Earth supports you!
Being conscious of all this space helps you to get a better connection with your body while playing. It avoids unnecessary muscle tension and makes correct breathing technique easier. When you are nervous, for example in a performance, it helps you to relax.
Support points:
Technically, there can be two points of support, but three points give much more stability, and they avoid a rigid left thumb: the lower lip, the right thumb and the right little finger, just below the little ridge above the last finger hole (not below). Without this third support point, the recorder is unstable and there is almost always a tendency of the left thumb to support the weight, which gives this finger a lot of pressure and takes away its possibility of moving freely.
We only use the right little finger when no fingers of the right hand are covering any holes.
This means that there will always be an alternation between the right little finger and the other right fingers. In this video I will show you how to practise this.
Embouchure:
The jaw has to be loose and in a neutral position. Make sure the jaw doesn’t move while you play!
The greater part of the tongue is also relaxed within the mouth. It is only the tip of the tongue that is active.
The embouchure itself is loose, with a slight U-shape (or “kissy mouth” shape), where the cheeks and the space between the nose and mouth are relaxed, so that they can serve as resonance chambers.
When you inhale, open your mouth as if you were saying "Ah" or "Oh". This way, your inhale is soundless and efficient. The weight of the recorder stays on your lower lip.
Finger position and especially thumb placement:
Locked finger joints with pressure on them (because the fingers are pressing down on the recorder) are detrimental. Chronic pressure can wear down the joints, which could lead to arthritis, in addition to creating other types of inflammation, such as tendinitis.
This happens most often in the case of the left thumb, with either inflammation of the tendon at the base of the thumb joint or an inflammation of a nerve, because the channel there is very narrow.
On the recorder we play with rounded fingers, covering the holes with the finger tips.
Straight fingers will make the entire hand work, while rounded fingers are much more efficient and healthier for the hand.
For a healthy hand position, focus especially on three fingers: the middle fingers and the left thumb.
If I place my middle fingers “diagonally on the tip” (so not completely on the tip but rather on the fleshy part), then the other fingers will position themselves in a healthy way.
The thumb posture is essential. Not only to prevent injuries but also for an efficient change in posture between the first and higher registers. In this video I show you exactly how it should be placed and how the higher octaves should be played.
Semitones in the right hand:
In order to cover only half of the finger holes 6 and 7, we slide the whole hand rather than the finger.
Look how it's done in the video.
Note that we need to use this movement quite often, as G sharp on the soprano and C sharp on the alto use half of the sixth finger hole.
Did you like it and would you like to see more?
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Check out the other videos of this series:
Use of air & breath control: ua-cam.com/video/1Jf0ax8Y6EQ/v-deo.html
Articulation (single, double, inégalité): ua-cam.com/video/uD0TxT5a9EY/v-deo.html
Coordination of air, finger, tongue: ua-cam.com/video/aNYN7HhSIwQ/v-deo.html
Versión en español (sub PT/IT): ua-cam.com/video/Cb0T0O1Pxgc/v-deo.html
Didaktisch zeer goed opgebouwd en zeer duidelijk en daardoor echt nuttig. Dankjewel
Jan Nijboer Hartelijk dank voor je woorden!! Heel fijn om te lezen! 🤗🌺 Het is een serie van 4 video’s en precies vandaag is de laatste uitgekomen, over coördinatie van lucht, vingers en articulatie!
Thanks for creating this video series! Extremely helpful for an amateur trying to get back to this beautiful instrument.
I’m very glad, thank you so much for your words!! It’s great that you’re getting back into the recorder again!! 🤗
I have learned a lot with this video. Thank you so much. And now...........practicing !!
Gaspe Indeed!! 😃 Thank you very much, I’m really glad! 🌺
Thanks a lot for your enlightening video. After watching it I realised I have to rebuild my recorder technique. You are very Zen. A Zen Master.
Guido Riva Thank you so much!! 😄🤗 I think making music is quite Zen when studying. Did you see the videos about use of Air, Articulation and Coordination of the three other elements?
yes I did and I enjoyed watching it. Thank you again!
Excellent video! Thank you!
Anne Parker Paulson Thank you very much!! I’m really glad!! 🤗❤️
These videos show how complex the technique of the recorder is. Thank you, Lobke, for your easy-to-understand explanations! I will use these basics in my daily practice.
Indeed it is complex! Thank you so much, Sebastian, I’m really glad to read your words!! 😊🌺
Great helpful information
David De Wilde Thank you so much for your comment!!! ❤️🤗
Very helpful!
Thank you!! I’m really glad to help! 🌺
Très très intéressant bravo !!! Je vais essayer le petit doigt ;-) Certains joueurs de whistle le font aussi :-)
Mouton rayé-BoulyProd Merveilleux!! Merci beaucoup!! 🤗❤️
Thank you so much 😊 I saw you on our FB group hehe
Lian B. Insigne Awesome!! Thank you!! 😊😊😊
Thank you
anepictree Thank you!! And thank you for subscribing 🤗🌺
Some helpful information. Thank you.
Thank you very much, I’m really glad it helps!! 🤗🌺
Really well done and helpful. Thanks!
Thank you!! And thanks for leaving a comment here! 🤗❤️
Thank you for making these fundamentals videos. This is going to take getting used to as I realise I've been holding my recorder incorrectly.
Could you show us how the right thumb is placed? I know it should be positioned between hole 4 and 5 but I'd like to see how it is shaped. I find my knuckle is bent quite hard and the thumb almost shaped like a semi-circle. I cant find a right hand position that is comfortable yet enables all the fingers to find the holes easily without stretching. Hauwe has an illustration in The Modern Recorder Player that doesn't work for me. When I shape my hand the way he describes, my fingers don't find the holes instinctively. I always end up with leakage.
Gardenia in bloom Thank you very much!! I took some photos of my thumb placement but the comment section doesn’t allow me to share images. That’s why I shared it as a written post, it’s on my channel under the community tab! I hope you can find it. Leave a comment there to tell me if it’s helpful for you or if you have any questions! ❤️
This was a great video, Lobke! I have a question regarding alto recorders in 440 and 415. I am still a beginner and currently play a Yamaha plastic recorder, and I was wondering if when I progress to an intermediate level whether it would it be a good idea for me to purchase an instrument in 415. The reason why I ask is that I have fairly small hands, and I’m concerned that the longer length of a recorder in 415 may be too much of a stretch for me.
Cheers,
Wilson
wapolo1974 Hi Wilson, thank you for your comment!! 🌺 In principle, Hz415 is required for professionals or students at conservatories / music universities. Normally, Hz440 is used everywhere in amateur circles. Some amateur student of mine did purchase a Hz415 instrument because he loved the sound, but there won’t be a lot of people he can play together in Hz415 with.
If one day you do wish to purchase a Hz415 instrument, there can be done some compromising with undercutting. I don’t know of any factory instrument that would have this possibility, I’m afraid you would have to buy an instrument by an instrument builder who could build such an instrument for you, for which we are talking of very different prices than factory instruments. So if what you wish is just make music for fun and not become a professional musician, there is nothing to worry about, Hz440 is the general pitch used everywhere. :)
@@LobkeSprenkeling Thank you for your detailed answer! I do enjoy the sound of the lower pitch, but I suppose it's better to be able to play comfortably without discomfort. ;)
Some good information. Can you do a video specifically for the tenor recorder? I have an Aulos keyless tenor, and playing it can be uncomfortable in the right wrist. I am told to lift the recorder, but it is not easy with a tenor and doing so bends the wrist joint more, causing more discomfort
Larry Shone Thank you very much! For a tenor, I would always go for a thumb rest. My voice flute in Hz415 (in D) is the biggest recorder I have without a thumb rest. If your recorder doesn’t have keys, you could also bind two hair elastics (a small and a bigger one), put the small one around the foot joint under the ridge below the last finger hole and put your thumb through the bigger elastic. In this way you hold the weight with your thumb. Does that help? And can you place a thumb rest?
@@LobkeSprenkeling thanks. I do have a thumb rest but its not very useful because it slides up the body. Instead I place my thumb on the lettering on the back which provides a texture to grip
Larry Shone Have you thought of gluing the thumb support? The mobile ones I only know them for alto recorder and wouldn’t really use them for heavier instruments. I’m not sure where they sell loose thumb rests, but normally they come with the recorders themselves. Placing it on the exact spot requires a week of constant measuring of where you place your thumb normally! I have had adult students who made one out of plexiglass, and others out of cork, but personally I would buy a thumb rest if that’s possible.
@@LobkeSprenkeling yes the thumb rest came with the recorder, but its not tight. It will move when playing the low notes. I don't want to glue it in place permanently. I just use the raised text on the back as a guide instead. That works fine
I guess it is a bernolin resin....
Raphael CHEN Yes! Indeed!! 😃👍🏻
@@LobkeSprenkeling I also have one in 415, and it is my main instrument for technical excercises.
Raphael CHEN For a resin instrument it’s great!