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Doublereed Archive - Posting 000012.txt from 2004/02

From: Arthur Grossman <artg@-----.edu>
Subj: [DR-L] tuneupsystem
Date: Tue, 3 Feb 2004 13:24:31 -0500

I have been asked to review a program for tuning. Let me state at the
outset that I have absolutely no commercial relationship whatsoever with
the developer of this program. The program contains a CD and a booklet
with tuning exercises. I tried the program with both bassoon and
contrabassoon and it is terrific. I was skeptical of being able to use it
on contra, but it works wonderfully. In fact, when I get my new
contraforte, one of the first things I will do is check it completely
against this CD. I have never been fond of the way most people use
electronic tuners for two reasons; one, it is visual rather than aural,
and two, the tendency is to play until the needle gets to the middle and
think you have solved the problem. You haven't for several reasons. In
the first place, the need is to get the note in tune from the beginning,
not some time later and secondly, unless one is very sophisticated in the
use of the tuner, it only prepares one for equal temperament. This
program is based on just intonation and teaches one to hear the interval
without beats, which is the goal. The program goes through all keys, and
if the booklet is read carefully, explains just intonation in an
accessible manner.

If there are any minor carps, firstly, one should have a CD player with a
remote, because you are going to want to repeat the various tracks ( I
actually wish they were longer, especially for students). Repetition is
the best way to learn anything musically, and this is no exception. The
exercises are all written in treble clef, which is no problem for a
professional player, but may cause difficulties for students. If the
student has to concentrate to read the music, I fear that less attention
will be paid to listening. I am sure that the developer of the program
could easily provide a bass clef addendum.

The program is available through:

www.tuneupsystems.com

Arthur Grossman, Professor Emeritus
Bassoon, Heckelphone and Contrabassoon
School of Music
Box 353450
University of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195-3450