Date:
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Time: 4:41 PM
Intonation
Back again to post before I go off to ECP for overnight bike hike around SG (:
Just a disclaimer that these tips I'm posting are fron my conductor's handouts given to the band some years back (before I joined Hcband). Whee, so enjoy (:
IntonationWhen your tone is already cleaner and relaxed, the next step is to check if you can sustain a long note, without it fluctuating in pitch or dynamic.
Use a tuner to check if your note changes pitch as you sustain it. If it does, you need to determine the cause and rectify it.
Probable causes of a wavering pitch:1. Air flow not consistent (air pressure and air speed, usually students let the pressure drop as air runs out). Keeping air pressure constant in your lungs is often referred to as 'breath support'.
2. Lips/embouchure not still, (moving) while sustaining the note.
3. Other body parts moving while sustaining the note (shaking legs, elbows, head).
4. Bad posture, crossing legs, leaning on back of chair.
Tune your instrument:1. Once you can sustain a steady note, tune it by adjusting your main tuning slide.
2. For brass, tune all remaining valve slides.
Compensate for your instrument:1. Test the other notes in your scale to see how far out of tune, and whether sharp or flat.
2. Next practice 'compensating' the out of tune notes to make them in-tune, by
3. Employing triggers and slides (for brass)
4. Embouchure adjustment (your lips), jaw pressure (reeds).
5. Alternate fingerings
6. Rolling the flute
Test yourself:1. Then practice sustaining all the notes in tune (long notes first)
2. Then practice sustaining all the notes in tune at all dynamic levels.
3. Write a chart or scale to indicate your intonation errors for each note, then practice playing scales that remain in tune throughout.
4. Then practice scale studies, etudes, to test your ability to keep-in-tune throughout. While you are at this, check: Is your tone still perfect? Can you maintain the tone and intonation at all dynamic levels?
Regarding the scales in tune thing, I guess Sharine (another graduated senior one year older than me, hc also), can show you. Haha. So that's where the book you guys have (the scale studies one), come in. Yup, that's what the books are for!
So try them out from 2nd June. If you can bring your instruments home (altos should have no excuses for doing so. Haha.) do bring.
Get your own personal tuner (don't rely on band ones since they get misplaced and koped by other sections often) so you can have the luxury of practicing where and whenever you want, even after band prac (:
The next post (after I conquered 100km around SG) will be on Articulation.
Hope I make it back alive, and do publicise this blog to everyone in our section. (:
nhsaxas ftw (: can see 5 generations.. lol. old liao. >.< 