Vivace!

What does it mean to “tune your instrument”?  It means to match your sound exactly with either an electronic tuner or an instrument that a person is playing next to you.  You may be playing the same note (like you and another trumpet player are both playing “C”), but it still sounds a little off or sour.  That is because one instrument may be just slightly higher (sharp) or lower (flat) in pitch.  You instrument has a built in adjustment ability to bring your instrument back “in tune”.

It is important that you know how to fine tune your instrument as we want to play the best in tune we can.  Please study and practice the tuning procedure using the Smart Music Tuner every day. 

• Here is what the Smart Music tuner “needle” means:
1. If the needle (straight line on the tuner picture) of the tuner goes to the right, that means you are “sharp”: fix it by “pulling out” the instrument (make it longer).
2. If the needle is to the left of center, that means your sound is “flat”: you “push in” (make it shorter) the instrument.
3. The instrument is in tune if the needle on the tuner is in the center (exactly vertical and on zero).
4. You can use the tuner for any note you play. 
• Here is a breakdown of how to adjust each instrument:
• Flute – pull or push the head joint
• Clarinet – pull or push at the barrel between the barrel and the upper stack (that is the top large piece)
• Bass Clarinet – pull or push in at the neck where it goes into the main body of the bass clarinet.
• Saxophone – pull or push the mouthpiece on the cork.  The correct starting point is in the center of the cork.
• French Horn – push or pull the main tuning slide. (note: if you have a double French horn, you must tune both the F and Bb sides of the horn using the main tuning slide for each.)
• Trumpet – pull or push the main tuning slide.  Make sure it is lubricated and working.  The correct starting point is about an inch pulled out.
• Trombone – pull or push the main tuning slide at the back of the instrument (not the playing slide).  Make sure to use both hands pushing with the thumbs against the brace to move slide evenly. It should be lubricated and working.  The correct starting point is about an inch pulled out.
• Tuba – pull or push the main tuning slide.  Make sure it is lubricated and working.  The correct starting point is about an inch pulled out.

If your brass instrument (trumpet, trombone or tuba) tuning slide is stuck and will not move:  First show it to the band directors to see if they can free the slide.  If not, then it should be taken to the repair shop and fixed.  Please have your parents ask for a ‘loaner’ instrument since it will probably take around two weeks for them to repair the instrument and return it to the store.