[Perform-Talk] Tuning the Orchestra

[Jimmy Parsons]

yeah, getting the starting pitch on a device is a good idea. Even if you need an earpiece or something to start. But as time goes on, I think you will internalize the tuning pitch. Also, it shows a lot that you care this much. And this will be a good lesson, the experience that is; in teaching you how to do this. You are a student, and this is one of your lessons. Don’t stress too much. It will come.   
Have Fun
Jimmy Parsons
330-524-5416

> On Sep 5, 2025, at 9:05 PM, Ella Yu via Perform-Talk <perform-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi all, Community orchestra violinist/violist here. I have no experience
> with tuning apps so I did not initially respond to the question. That said,
> I do think there's a difference between an oboist tuning the whole
> orchestra and everyone else tuning to the oboist. I also have perfect pitch
> and I do trust my ears, but if I put myself in the shoes of an oboist
> tuning a whole orchestra, I would very likely want to be at exactly A440 or
> A442 or whatever the standard is, so tuning myself to a reference pitch of
> some kind would likely be necessary. For a student orchestra and if the
> stakes aren't too high, if I have a very good idea mentally of what A440
> is, I could probably just trust my ears, but I do think there's that extra
> layer of responsibility to be exact if you're the oboist tuning the
> orchestra.
> 
>> On Fri, Sep 5, 2025 at 5:24 PM Leslie Hamric via Perform-Talk <
>> perform-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> First of all, congratulations for making it into the student Orchestra.
>> I'm a cellist and I play in the Elmhurst Symphony so I know all about
>> tuning to the oboe. Couple questions. Do you have perfect pitch? If so, you
>> could absolutely trust your ears. I don't like the talking tuner app
>> because I don't find it accurate. I have perfect pitch and it drives me
>> crazy. another app that you could use is metronome and tuner or temple
>> perfect. These apps are accessible and they have where you can select a
>> note and it'll play it. You could match your pitch to that. I like your
>> tuning fork idea.
>> Leslie Hamric
>> Cello and Braille Music Teacher
>> 
>>> On Sep 5, 2025, at 5:39 PM, Elena D. via Perform-Talk <
>> perform-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Dear NFBPAD Members,
>>> 
>>> My name is Elena De Nooy. Hopefully, this message is landing in
>>> the discussion forum. I apologize if it is not; this network is new to
>> me.
>>> I have just joined a student orchestra, the only one playing oboe. This
>>> will mean that I could be responsible to tune the orchestra. My plan is
>> to
>>> turn on a tuning fork, then match my pitch to it. Preferably, an actual
>>> tuner would tell me how in tune my A actually is. I think it would be
>> best
>>> not to just trust my ears for this, but also to know for certain how I am
>>> doing. I installed an app called "Talking Tuner" on my iPad, but I do not
>>> think this will work since the note must stop before it tells me if I am
>> in
>>> tune or not. Of course, this will not be able to happen in orchestra
>> since
>>> the note must be sustained for the duration of those matching to my
>> pitch.
>>> Do you have any accessible ways I could make tuning feasible?
>>> Thank you very much for your help.
>>> 
>>> Sincerely,
>>> 
>>> Elena De Nooy
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