Band Directors! Learn to Tune Your #%@&*%$# Bands!

87654ca3c887cfa611a2912e414a67a3“I have had it with out-of-tune bands”!

The more I listen to concert bands, the more I get upset and wonder where we have gone wrong in instrumental music.

As my readers have learned, I am a very patient yet sometimes out spoken person. I try to understand other opinions and give most people the benefit of the doubt but in the case of poor intonation in most of our instrumental music programs today, I have had it!

I have decided to face the reality that the instrumental programs for the most part in our country have failed our students when it comes to acceptable intonation and because of that realization, I have decided to place the blame where it belongs, and that is on the band directors themselves!

The number of directors capable of recognizing out-of-tune players in their bands is pitiful! It’s no wonder our students can’t play in tune; their directors have no clue either. The fault lies with our tin eared, “don’t have a clue” directors. If you think I’m upset with this condition, I am. I have been awake most of the night and now it is 5:30 am. I have been a passive bystander long enough and now it is time to ruffle a few (or many) feathers.

Here are 10 reasons most of our bands are playing out of tune

1. You can’t tune your band to a tuba!

2. Stop relying on your electronic tuner!

3. Tune your band before, during and at the end of every rehearsal!

4. If somethings sounds out of tune, fix it!

5. Learn which notes tend to be out of tune on “every instrument”.

6. Do not be satisfied with “close enough”!

7. There is no such thing as “tuned at the factory”.

8. Acceptable intonation takes practice, so practice it yourself!

9. The word “pitchy” has become a standing joke, but there is nothing funny about it in music education!

10. If you don’t teach these kids proper intonation, who will?

I am serious about this national problem and for those who may say I am generalizing for including “all” directors in this epidemic, please reread my careful use of the words “most” and “many” before you start sending in your opinion.

I will continue this rant in following posts with my suggestions in each of these 10 areas.
I am very sorry (actually I’m not sorry at all) for the anger I have bestowed upon you this morning but I’m tired of intonation mediocrity!

Bruce was a member of the faculty at the University of Northern Iowa, School of Music in Cedar Falls from 1969 until his retirement in 1999. He has performed with many well-known entertainers such as Bob Hope, Jim Nabors, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, Anita Bryant, Carman Cavalara, Victor Borgie, the Four Freshman, Blackstone the Magician, Bobby Vinton and John Davidson.

2 thoughts on “Band Directors! Learn to Tune Your #%@&*%$# Bands!

  1. Riina

    Wow! I’m trying to do a research on the topic and most of the band directors and consultants have said that there is nothing to inquire about it. You just tune your instrument and that’s it. What do you think?

    • Bruce Chidester

      I think the people you asked may be the problem in our system.

      If I can be of any help to you with your research please let me know for as you have read from my posts, I am very involved with this problem.

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