Playing In Tune
by Bruce Pearson

There is nothing wrong with playing out of tune — as long as no one has to hear it.
     Many otherwise great performances have been compromised by poor intonation. Playing in tune for a band is often problematic, for it is not an isolated skill, but requires good tone production, good listening skills, knowing the instrument and its pitch tendencies, and knowing how to make the necessary adjustments. Intonation is essentially an issue of judgment based upon aural and musical perception.
     Some teachers feel that it is a waste to spend much time teaching good intonation for they feel it is too difficult to teach or that their students will not make the required effort to play in tune. Students will want to play in tune if they are taught pitch awareness and how to tune their instruments from the beginning. The more students hear good intonation, the less they will accept poor intonation.
     This two-part series, Playing In Tune, will include:

     1. The principles of playing in tune
     2. The process of tuning the band

     The article in this volume will focus on the principles of playing in tune. The next volume of Kjos Band News will focus on the process of tuning the band.

Principles of Playing In Tune
     • The art of playing in tune requires good tone production and good listening. You can't tune a poor tone, either individual or ensemble. Before asking, "are you in tune?" ask, "are you in tone?"
     • It is the student's responsibility to play in tune. It is the director's task to teach them how to play in tune. Teach the students what in tune and out of tune sound like.
     • Tune only after the instruments and musicians are warmed up.
     • Be sure students know the pitch tendencies of their instruments and how to make the necessary adjustments.
     • Tune the chords from the bass voices in root position.
     • Teach students to match sounds. Inform them as to who is playing the same pitch or musical line and have them match those pitches.
     • Good ensemble intonation is inextricably linked to good ensemble balance. Have the ensemble play with a good "pyramid of sound."
     • Tune the ensemble by having students be responsible for tuning both the vertical and horizontal tuning process.
     • Ask players to "tune their trio" (one student and those on either side), which eventually links the entire ensemble.
     • Students need to know what note of the chord they are playing and should become aware of some of the standard harmonic intonation adjustments:

A. Major triad            Tune the third down
B. Minor triad            Tune the third up
C. Dominant 7th       Tune the seventh down

     • Teach students the effect of dynamics (volume) on intonation.
     • When tuning a Perfect 5th, if the note wants to drift upward, it is sharp. If the note wants to drift downward, it is flat.
     • Good intonation requires good instruments that are well-adjusted and good mouthpieces.

     If both teachers and students are aware of these principles of playing in tune and put them into practice, there will be dramatic improvement in performance.

About Bruce Pearson

Copyright © 2003 Neil A. Kjos Music Company. All rights reserved.