ABSTRACT
Outstanding intonation is a primary and crucial goal of all musical performances. Meanwhile, band directors find challenges in teaching students to play in tune. Controlled intonation is a product of a musician’s ability to perceive the “beats” caused by faulty tuning, and to eliminate those beats by raising and lowering pitches when appropriate. Additionally, musicians must be aware of the inherent intonation problems—the “bad notes”—on their instruments. Avoiding a strong reliance on mechanical tuners, this chapter instead promotes practical ear-training and performance skills through the use of drones, targets, resonance, and attainable listening strategies. Readers will find descriptions of full-band tuning processes, individualized intonation mapping, innovative projects, and special instructions designed to improve tuning in extreme registers, in extreme dynamics. The chapter also includes engaging games, special music-marking methods for intonation purposes, interesting randomness strategies, and “quick-fix” suggestions, all for the betterment of the band’s tuning. Ultimately, superior band tuning requires all of the ensemble’s members to achieve independence with their own refined ear-training. This chapter offers ample pedagogical assistance for band directors to help their students reach that independence efficiently.
