You, Too, Can Play The Spoons

Chapter 3

Proper grip is most important for spoon playing. Much practice is required to reduce the chance of embarrassment that can result from a spoon gone awry or horror of horrors - a spoon dropped.

Place the first spoon with the bowl down between the second joint of the index and third finger of your playing hand with about one-inch of the handle extending inside your fingers. Place the other spoon over the second joint of the index finger with the bowl up. Place your thumb down on the handle of the top spoon parallel with the spoon shaft and extend it about one-inch down the handle.

The bowls of the spoon should be about 1/4-inch apart.

If you have riveted your spoons, the grip can be modified as follows: wrap your index finger over, down and around the outside of both spoons up to the top of the bend you made in the handles. The tip of your third finger will come to rest near the end of the spoon handle and will press the upper side of the handle against the palm of your hand. Place the bottom of your thumb between the handles in the area of the bend. The bottom of the thumb may or may not touch the middle joint of the index finger.

The best body position for practice and for extended playing is standing with one foot elevated so that the leg between hip and knee is inclined slightly upward. The leg raised will be on the opposite side of the body from the hand holding the spoons. The height will vary with the individuals height. A standard kitchen chair is fine for me at 5' 10".

You should also practice playing while standing straight, sitting down, walking, riding horseback, etc, so that you can perform as the occasion dictates.

You are now about ready to begin playing; but first, your music lesson.