Reply To: Teaching Tuning

[nafmeadmin]

I learned how to tune my instrument in 7th grade. My teachers would always talk about tuning, but didn’t do much till then. If I were to teac tuning, I would maybe start it their second of playing. This way they have an understanding of their instruments and notes. To teach your students, I would first have them play their tuning note and see what it would sound like. Then play that note on a piano and let them listen to it. Next I would pick a student to play their instrument while you played the piano and hold it out so the class can hear the waves of the tuning. This would be the time to talk about what the waves mean when you are tuning the instruments and help that student tune to the piano so the waves stop. From there, go section by section and help them learn how to tune. I would make the whole lesson for that day about tuning so everyone understands.