Klarinet Archive - Posting 000378.txt from 2005/04

From: "Woodwind" <woodwind@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Tuners
Date: Sat, 23 Apr 2005 20:22:19 -0400


> We also used to keep them on the stands when playing
> musicals. Again, we used several electronic and mallet
> instruments in the pit. If they play first, you can always
> listen to them. If *you* play first, there's no way they can
> match your pitch. Having the pitch cued visually helped a
> great deal, esp. if the monitoring wasn't so hot. Also, many
> times the horn was picked up cold (or intervals of speech
> left you not playing for minutes at a time).

I very much agree with Kevin here. I rarely use a tuner in other sorts of
performance situations, other than during warm-up. I do regularly use one in
a pit orchestra for exactly the reasons mentioned below. And with the
uncertainty of horns that are chilled enough to have an unreliable pitch in
relation to its warmed-up state, it's nice to get a quick visual to let you
adjust in the two notes you get to play before you hit that exposed duet
with the synth ;-)

They certainly aren't a substitute for ears, especially in the ever-changing
environment of an instrumental group. But I also don't hesitate to use a
tool that takes off some of the pressure in a situation where the tool has
obvious benefits.

Trish

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