Klarinet Archive - Posting 000831.txt from 1997/05

From: "Diane Karius, Ph.D." <dikarius@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: Pitch of tuning notes
Date: Fri, 30 May 1997 09:24:18 -0400

Alan Smith wrote (in part):
> I have noticed that when tuning to the oboe many other wind players do not
> adjust their instruments, but simply blow the note higher or lower. I find
> this often true for flute players, who frequently play sharp. I assume that
> a cold instrument will explain that, but I would appreciate knowing more from
> you folks.

The habit you describe drives me to distraction (and I'm only an
amateur) - because a frequent correlate is that these same players
never adjust their tuning as they warm up (which, too often, they
haven't done prior to tuning in the first place), leading to the
sharpness you note. Of course, those of us actually trying to
listen and tune spend a significant amount of time trying
to hit a moving target (i.e. whatever is passing for "A" at that
moment).
Having said that, I do "lip up" certain notes during tuning
scales (rather than adjusting at the barrel) - I do enough long tones
with a tuner to know that on my clarinet when a particular note is a
little flat relative to other registers/notes.

diane k.

   
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