by burke » Sun Dec 11, 2016 5:35 pm
Welcome!
I absolutely admire what you are doing and the circumstances under which you are undertaking your journey into learning.
The forum has gone pretty quiet over the past year or more and I'm not sure how many folks are checking in these days so don't feel too bad if you don't get a lot of responses.
I'm not a pro, but I play an open tone with a relaxed hand and fingers slightly apart.
As for the part two, there is likely personal variation, but I say generally more the latter - "contact begins at those bones" ... size of the drum can be a factor ... little requinto might require less hand to hit the sweet spot for example.
If it sounds right ... its probably right.
Cheers
Burke