Klarinet Archive - Posting 000352.txt from 2005/04

From: Andrew Grenci <agrenci@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Tuners
Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2005 17:43:58 -0400

Good points Walter. It is also important to keep in mind that an
electronic tuner asks us to play perfect tempered pitches/intervals,
which is not always what we should be doing.

Thus, in addition to using the visual aspects of the tuner to find
pitches, it is useful to play intervals with a sounding pitch from the
tuner adjusting as needed until they sound right.

Andy

Andrew Grenci
Bass Clarinet, U.S. Coast Guard Band
New Haven Symphony Orchestra

On Apr 22, 2005, at 2:58 PM, GrabnerWG@-----.com wrote:

> In a message dated 4/22/2005 4:47:42 AM Central Daylight Time,
> andreaduval@-----.com writes:
> <<Yes and no. I really do see people in a couple of the
> bands I play with use a tuner on their stands during
> the whole rehearsal...but no, I did not figure that
> you used a tuner during rehearsal (in that manner
> anyhow).>>
>
> I have come to the conclusion that having a tuner on the stand is a
> bad idea.
>
> I do find it handy to have one available, to discreetly check a note
> of my
> own from time to time.
>
> However, the tuner will have no relevance to the actual pitch level
> being
> produced around you by members of the ensemble. It matters NOT that
> you can
> "stop the needle" on a given note. What is important is that you can
> match pitch
> with that which is going on before you play or while you play.
>
> Depending on temperature and humidity, the pitch level of a band or
> orchestra will rise or (seldom) fall. Blind adherence to a tuner will
> perhaps, tell
> you how far the group has drifted from whatever arbitrary standard,
> but will
> not help you play "in tune."
>
> I am also HEARTILY SICK, of those people sitting in a rehearsal,
> listening
> to another person play, watching the "needle," and shaking their head
> in a
> wildly disapproving way when red lights flash in one direction or
> another. (Less
> I come off as a hypocrite, I do have to confess to having indulged in
> that
> behavior previously.)
>
> Now please don't get me wrong. I think these small tuners are a
> Godsend. I
> wish they would have been available when I was much younger. They are
> a great
> tool for working with your own instrument and observing its
> tendencies. I use
> one every day. I mean that - every single day ~
>
> However, I do not believe they can tell you the "correct" pitch to
> play in a
> rehearsal or performance. I can think of a half dozen times in the
> past two
> weeks, where I have had to raise in pitch a note which I know is
> normally
> sharp on my instrument, in order to "tune" to a piccolo, trumpet, or
> violin with
> whom I was playing in unison.
>
>
> Walter Grabner
> www.clarinetXpress.com
> World-class clarinet mouthpieces
>
>
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