Klarinet Archive - Posting 000028.txt from 1995/05

From: Laurence Liberson <hardreed@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Woodwind Quintet Intonation Problems
Date: Mon, 1 May 1995 15:34:50 -0400

>> I have been playing in a woodwind quintet for many years and I hear on
>> recordings of our concerts a very consistant problem - intonation all
>> over the place. Intonation is the area that we could use the most
>> work on.
>>
>> Do members of the group have any thoughts on ways to improve
>> intonation?
>>
>> Also we are looking for a new horn player. Does anyone know of a good
>> horn player that lives in the Boston area? (We are based in the Boston
>> area.)
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>>
>> Mike Roesler
>>
>> email: miker@-----.com
>>
>
Mike,

You might try some basic exercises to try with each other in your group:
Try passing a simple "A" from one member to the other (maybe 5-10 beats
each), aiming to match the pitch well before the first person stops playing.
Go around the quintet a few times each occasion you rehearse, using
different pitches and dynamic levels.

This will not only help your ear, but make you more aware of your own pitch
problems and the tendencies of the other members of your group.

Larry Liberson
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
hardreed@-----.com