Posted by Rick Denney on August 30, 2002 at 12:00:46:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: Re: conductor foibles - tuning posted by Dee on August 29, 2002 at 20:08:07:
I play a York Master.
As Greg said, a pro orchestra tunes by hearing, and also by having a good sense of their own pitch out front. I sometimes think the real characteristic that marks the pro-quality player is the ability to hear himself as others hear him. His own ears are calibrated to the sound out front.
It is entirely likely that my problem would be helped by making a better sound with more accurately aligned overtones. It is also likely that tubas test cheap tuners to their limits. They probably can't even hear out lower frequencies because their microphones aren't sensitive enough, so they much hear much of what goes into the sound through the upper harmonics. They certainly hear those harmonics differently than we do, and for some players and instruments that may make a significant difference. But I don't think it explains 20-cent errors.
Rick "who, like Klaus, improves in this regard with regular practice" Denney