PITCH AWARENESS

Glen Tuomaala - College of Mount Saint Joseph Department of Music

 

FUNDAMENTALS

1.       Proper posture and breath control

2.       Correct embouchure

3.       Accurate tonguing

4.       Complete control of the instrument: fingerings

5.       Consistent pitch center

 

BRASS INSTRUMENTS’ VALVE COMBINATION PITCH TENDENCIES

A.     1 & 2               Moderately sharp

B.      1 & 3               Very sharp

C.      1, 2, & 3          Extremely sharp

D.      2 & 3               Moderately flat

 

MEANS OF IMPROVING BRASS INSTRUMENT INTONATION

A.     Trumpet

1.       Adjust pitches with the embouchure

2.       Adjust the trigger mechanism on the 1st valve slide (if available)

3.       Adjust the 3rd valve slide ring (if available)

4.       Use alternate fingerings

B.      French Horn

1.       Adjust the pitches with the embouchure

2.       Use of right hand in the bell

3.       Use alternate fingerings

C.      Trombone

1.       Adjusting the slide position and embouchure

2.       Lengthening slide position slightly for the 3rd and 6th harmonic

3.       Shortening the slide for the 7th harmonic

 

MEANS OF IMPROVING INTONATION ON WOODWIND INSTRUMENTS

A.     Clarinet

1.       The lower register is often flat

2.       The upper register is slightly sharp

3.       Open the throat tones

B.      Corrections for clarinet intonation problems

1.       Raising or lowering of the pads

2.       Increase or decrease the amount of cork between keys

3.       Check the embouchure

C.      Flute

1.       Normally sharp in the register from high E to high C

2.       Flat on 4th space E

3.       Rather stuffy in response in the lower register from low G to C

D.      Saxophone

1.       Reed choices

 

SUMMARY OF INTONATION PROBLEMS

A.     Standard brand instruments are manufactured to tune at A-440 at 72 degrees

B.      Awareness that regularly built wind instruments can be tuned above or below the A-440 level, but this sacrifices the tuning provided within the design

C.      Many professional ensembles (Berlin Philharmonic) still tune sharp.  Tuning flat increases the overall system response.

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

A.     Tune to A-440 and plan the rehearsal room to have a temperature of 72 degrees

B.      Have readily accessible quality instruments to demonstrate on yourself

C.      Procure the finest instruments your music budget will allow

D.      Work to constantly improve intonation and create intonation consciousness in warm-up and rehearsal

E.       Use a strobe chart with the students

 

FACTORS INVOLVED WITH TUNING

A.     Experience and maturity of the student musicians

B.      Experience and knowledge of the director

C.      Electronic tuning equipment available

D.      Weather and climate

E.       Time lapsed from last rehearsal

F.       Discipline

G.      Brands and models of instruments: quality and section matching

H.      Accessories: reeds, mouthpieces, ligatures, tuning rings for clarinets, replaced spit corks, etc.

 

Temperature affects pitch dramatically.  Maintain the temperature of the rehearsal hall at about 68 degrees.  Students entering and “warming up” will quickly raise the room temperature to approximately 72 degrees.  The International Tuning Standard is A-440 at 72 degrees.