Klarinet Archive - Posting 000152.txt from 1996/10

From: Brian Wilcher <bcwilcher@-----.NET>
Subj: Re: tuning, devices & instinct
Date: Mon, 7 Oct 1996 19:45:36 -0400

Hi all ! I just usually watch the postings go by quietly but I thought I
should reply to these.
A clarinet may well be in tune with itself (octaves in tune with each
other, balanced overtones, well-tempered scales, etc.) but still not be in
tune with concert pitch. Many of factors can influence the pitch which
produced at any time including reed strength/placement, temperature,
humidity, your physical condition, etc. In my experience, a lot of
musicians who spend a lot of time playing alone have problems with blending
and intonation when playing in ensembles. IMHO a musician should train
his/her ear to concert pitch (A 440). Using a tuner as a tool (not a
crutch) is valuable in this training. Even if you play in groups which
tune higher or lower it helps to have your ear trained to a common pitch.
I often tune up using the tuner and play etudes, holding out an note from
time to time and checking it with the tuner. This is no substitute for
listening to your ensemble to tune, but if we all have a better
understanding of how we play relative to concert pitch, we can start out
closer to it. A tuner is a good tool to help train your EAR. It woud be
wonderful if we all had (the same) perfect pitch. The ear IS the best tool
to use to play in tune. No clarinet came tuned at the factory.

Brian Wilcher
email: bcwilcher@-----.net

----------
re:
> From: Sherri Hill <sheba@-----.net>
> Subject: Re: tuning, devices & instinct
> On 1 Oct 96 at 16:28, Fogle, Bill wrote :
> > I have a Korg-clone tuner, but I tend to depend upon my ear
> ...
> I've noticed when I am in tune the note has a 'ring' to it.
>...