A few weeks ago, I received an email from a friend I used to march with in the Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps:
I wanted to ask you to think about it another way — instead of black and white index and middle finger, what about a shared fulcrum? I have students in San Jose who have had a lot of Santa Clara Vanguard-based instruction on technique (one of my kids even marched in the A corps) so there have been several explanations about relaxing the index finger. When I do it, it feels to me like there’s more of a triangulation between the index and middle finger with the thumb, almost like the fulcrum feels like it’s between the the two fingers and the thumb and not directly on either finger (solely). I understand you’re coming from a scientific standpoint with the lever and fulcrum discussion; that said, I think it would be interesting to hear your take about that “middle fulcrum” that I’m talking about, if you deem it worthy to explore that is. Just food for thought. Thanks for sharing your in depth examination of the mechanics, it was a good read!
Update: 9-6-2010: revised upon request
My friend brings up a concept I actually used to teach. Back in the late 90’s, and probably early into the new millennium, I was teaching my students that the fulcrum we use isn’t at the thumb/index finger combo but it actually a triangle: thumb, index, and middle finger. My reasoning was that it alleviated the work the forefinger would have to do, thus helping the hand to be more balanced which in turn helps the player to use the whole hand while playing instead just the front (at the thumb and forefinger).
After a while, I began to abandon the triangular concept in favor of a more literal explanation, the one I’ve examined here and here. This isn’t to say I abandoned the reasoning behind the triangular concept, just that I wanted to have my students think of the fulcrum and the role of the middle finger a little more exactly than what the notion of a triangle fulcrum had to offer.
My friend explains it well: by relaxing the index finger, it feels like there’s a triangle of the thumb, index, and middle with the fulcrum being in the middle of that triangle. This, in a nutshell, is why I taught the triangular concept oh so many years ago. But what this really is is a description of how it feels and, from my point of view, not exactly what’s happening. It’s literal versus figurative.
Confusing? Let’s put it this way: ever hear someone say, “Man, it feels like I’ve been stabbed in the chest.”
“Dude, my head feels like someone dropped an anvil on it.”
“Boy, I feel like a million bucks!”
Those are figurative statements that describe how one feels. Chance are, the person hasn’t been stabbed in the chest, he or she just hurts really bad and stabbing is the best way to describe it. Same thing with the person whose head feels like an anvil dropped on it: no, an anvil didn’t dropped on it, otherwise he or she wouldn’t be able to tell you about the pain in their head. And what does a million bucks feel like? We assume it’s a pretty happy feeling, but being that we’re human and not inanimate objects manufactured from processed wood that’s been run through a specialized printing press, we don’t know for sure.
The fulcrum may feel like it’s in between the index and middle, in combination with the thumb, but that’s because they’re working together to help pivot the stick. The stick, being the “load” of the lever, is moved by the wrist (another lever acting as the “effort”) and aided in control by the fingers. I’ve taken to calling the middle finger the “primary leverage control”, especially when the index finger is looser on the stick. The index finger also aids in leverage control during times the player opens and closes it along with the rest of the fingers (depending on the application), but the middle finger always opens and closes when the player choses to utilize finger movement. Also, the middle finger is in a stronger position to be the primary since it doesn’t have to worry about the stick pivoting in its location. The stick pivots – literally pivots – at the front end of the hand, and when the index finger is on the stick, the stick will pivot there. The stick pivots near the middle finger, which isn’t the same thing.
These are details. Important details, but details nonetheless. What I’m after with these examinations is that students are taught with as much correctness as possible. In the case of the fulcrum – a case that, with proper understanding, use will help drummer gain control and relaxation while playing – I think it’s important to explain and demonstrate it properly. However, my friend’s question brings up a good point: feel.
When explaining to a student (one who can handle the information) how a fulcrum works, I think it’s also okay to inform him or her that even the though the fulcrum works “this” way, it can feel “this” way. There’s nothing wrong with that because the way it feels it can be a truth. Maybe not a universal truth (we all feel different things differently), but a truth. And it’s important to note the difference because we, as teachers, don’t want to give our students the wrong idea. Some students can certainly handle the implications of the “middle finger fulcrum” explanation: in conjunction with a proper demonstration, the concept can show students how to use a loose index finger while letting the middle finger take on the primary leverage control, thus relaxing the hand and making use of the whole hand. But some students are going to have trouble using the index finger properly with this technique. In some cases, like drum corps, instructors can select who they teach. But many teachers have to teach whoever walks in the door, and some students who really want to play drums don’t have a natural knack for it, physically, mentally, or both.
Therefore, as a general rule, I’d rather be as specific and correct as possible. Scientifically, I don’t think the middle finger fulcrum or the triangular fulcrum concepts are correct, although I understand their intent. I don’t think it’s that much more effort to explain the actual roles of the index finger (the fulcrum) and the middle finger (primary leverage control). But I also don’t think it’s wrong to explain to a student what something feels like provided teachers make the distinction.
(UPDATE: 4-19-2012 – grammatical corrections)