ABSTRACT
An informal poll of high school band directors nationwide revealed that large ensemble rehearsal lengths vary from 36 to 90 minutes at the extremes, with an average length of 48 minutes. Tuning for winds should follow breathing and long tone exercises and also be incorporated into chorales and technical etudes. On occasion, directors may also choose to tune again in the middle of the rehearsal as pitches tend to drift. Principal tuba followed by other tubas match the pitch F with a tuning source. Once that pitch is established the tuning proceeds from low to high instruments. Chorales provide excellent warm-up material because they are technically simple, allowing students to concentrate on following the conductor while listening and adjusting intonation, balance, blend, and tone quality—the components of good performance. Technical studies are a progressive sequence from basic to advanced of the building blocks of music.
