Klarinet Archive - Posting 000596.txt from 2002/03

From: HatNYC62@-----.com
Subj: [kl] So you wanna play in tune?
Date: Thu, 21 Mar 2002 09:25:06 -0500

In a message dated 3/21/02 4:14:25 AM, klarinet-digest-help@-----.org
writes:

<< But the correct pitch changes depending on the key and the interval of the
chord you are playing. Sounds like a job for a computer. >>

Aha, Gary! Now you are getting somewhere!

It just so happens that there IS a computer program (not cheap) that helps
with this.

It is called INTONATION TRAINER. I demoed a predecessor of it once. It is
quite ingenious. I don't own it, but it shows the user where notes need to be
BASED ON WHERE THE NOTE IS IN THE UNDERLYING HARMONY. Plus, everything is
tuned to just intonation so you can hear the 'beats' of your own
shortcomings. It also has a microphone for your computer so you can both 'see
the meter' AND hear the pitches, something most tuners can't do.

Now I DO own a predecessor of this program. It is a cd and book called
TUNEUP. I recommend this highly. I loaned it to a colleague recently (a
superb clarinet player) and she called a few days later and said "this thing
is kicking my ass!" Which is exactly what it is supposed to do. Tuneup is, as
far as I know, still available and it is not very expensive.

Now the problem with this is some of the pitch bends that are required in
either of these programs (especially for 6ths) are so extreme that they are
about impossible to accomplish on the clarinet. That's ok, because at least
you'll know where it is supposed to be and get as close as possible.

Let me say this. No one just 'plays in tune.' The clarinetists (and there are
very, very, few of them compared to how many people play the clarinet) who
have superb intonation work hard at it 100% of the time they play.

If you are not killing yourself constantly with your efforts to better your
intonation, you are probably either (A) playing out of tune most of the time
(what we sometimes call "outtonation") or (B) unaware of how out of tune you
are playing.

Playing the clarinet with superb intonation (I hate to say 'in tune' any more
because it implies a kind of perfection. . .just about every clarinet player
is going to have a note or two stick out once in a while. . .fatigue alone
demands it) is about the hardest thing imaginable.

>From my own experience, what the TUNEUP thing helps point out is that it is
SO important for you as a player to listen to CONTEXT. Most people listen to
themselves play all the time. When I play I listen to everything around me.
Listening to myself is for practicing at home. Listening outwards, I hear
what's going on and I then know if I am sticking out inappropriately and why
(am I too loud? too sharp? too flat?) and can quickly adjust. It helps if you
do some score study before you leave the house so you know what others are
supposed to have. That helps you know whom specifically to listen to at each
important moment.

Get the idea that being a (good) musician is complicated?

David Hattner, NYC
www.northbranchrecords.com

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