Almost every technique problem in this session traces back to too much hand tension, not too little effort. I keep returning to the same two pillars: keep your hands as relaxed as possible, and keep your fingers in close to the chanter. Most players don't struggle with being too relaxed — they struggle with squeezing too hard.
The 'seven' style birl is a real four-step move: touch, slide down still touching, slide up and pull back, then release. I break down exactly how the birl works mechanically, including why the ring finger is allowed to move a little without coming off the hole, and why trying to lock it perfectly still makes things worse.
When you fix something fundamental in your technique, it gets worse before it gets better — and that's supposed to happen. My 'golden nugget' for the session: judge your practice by whether your hands stayed relaxed, not by whether the notes came out clean. The cleanliness follows once the relaxation is real.
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Practice Chanter Session — January 11, 2024
58m · Full class available to Inner Circle members
02:52and a Better Fosbury The Technique Flop Finding🔒
05:21of Pillars Two Good Form The🔒
06:03Training Devices Gear Ties and Hand Position for🔒
08:33Step Hand Top Step Position, by🔒
13:57and Position Thumb Placement Bottom Hand🔒
26:31Birl Finger Curl Ring Fixing the in🔒
31:32The Birl of Seven-Style Four the Steps🔒
37:26Technique Fisher Over Bob and of Power Effort the🔒
40:03Consistency: Practice Off Two Days Than No More🔒
44:04Lesson Violinist's Joints: A Never Lock Your🔒
47:20GDE Gracenotes Relaxed🔒
52:18Hands Why Matter Taorluath The Light and🔒
53:47Nugget: The Golden Better Gets It Before Worse Gets It🔒
57:11Videos and Member Wrap-Up Submitting🔒
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About this class
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