Author: mschmidt
Date: 2024-10-27 22:26
Keeping the box on while performing music is wrong for all the reasons that Jaysne and kdk pointed out. But there is another reason: The box is probably set for equal temperament, that strictly mathematical construct for solving the problem of Pythogoras's comma. It will insist on having no intervals other than the octave be really "in tune" according to the simple ratios of frequencies. There are some phone apps that can be set for other temperaments, but these require you to specify the key--and if what you are playing modulates from one key to the next, it would be impractical to poke at the screen five times to reset the temperament key. Tuning devices are wonderful inventions for training the ear--I would never have become the player I am without spending hours with one WHEN PRACTICING BY MYSELF, but ultimately the ear needs to be the final arbiter.
Having said that, it could be that the oboist is doing what I used to do--have the box on just so that, if he hears that he is wildly out of tune, but is, in a panic, wondering whether he is sharp or flat, see where he is. When I did this I had a very bad ear, and frequently played out of tune. Some other players thought that the reason I was out of tune is that I was constantly watching the box, and not listening. But I was actually not watching the box--I was just playing out of tune because I had a poorly trained ear. In fact, I did not have a clip-on mic, and watching the box was useless when the whole ensemble was playing--the box was mostly responding to the louder instruments, not my oboe! Nevertheless, the people who thought the box was the problem destroyed the box while I was away from my stand. Fortunately those things are now relatively cheap to replace.
Mike
Still an Amateur, but not really middle-aged anymore
Post Edited (2024-10-27 22:29)
|
|
The Oboe BBoard
.jpg){kind=small}
