Tuning Issues: A Musician's Dilemma

If you happen to be an instrumentalist and/or a vocalist , you no doubt understand the importance of playing or singing in tune. Nothing swings more than a big band playing in a rhythmic groove with robust dynamics and in tune! The player who is flat or sharp can affect the whole herd's sound. We all strive to perform the music as accurately as possible, year in and year out but with age comes subtle changes in sensory capabilities.
As an audiologist with an interest in auditory function including pitch perception, segregation of competing sounds, loudness assessment, etc., I have come to realize the following:

given the diversity of sensory/perceptual impressions possible , when it comes to music listening and critiquing, it is simply amazing that big bands sound as good as they do!

The normal variability of pitch identification seen in young, normal hearing, research subjects is often magnified when dealing with the natural aging process . In addition, some not so natural hearing pathologies can damage delicate inner ear structures and shift musical excitation patterns with a resultant pitch distortion. That's right: You might sound flat or sharp simply due to an idiosyncratic ear glitch.

We have two ears capable of exquisite monaural/stereo interaction. The inner ear, located in the temporal bone is referred to as the cochlea. It contains fluid and thousands of tiny hair cells among other things, designed to analyze the frequency/pitch components of everyday sounds including music. These micro-sensory units are susceptible to degradation effects related to aging, hereditary, noise exposure, medications, etc., . In addition , our brain contains the central auditory nervous system pathways and bioelectric circuitry that modulate and correlate sound input from each cochlea with a complexity that baffles the best minds involved in hearing research. When it is all said and done, our inner ears provide the input and our brain interprets the information.

Music in----music out;
Distortion in---distortion out!

As sidemen we should be open to group assessment of our sound. To be sure , the pros have worked long and hard in developing their unique sound signatures. However, when sections are playing ensemble with precision harmonies and rhythms one must be constantly aware of the other guys' tonal centers and attempt to be there, too. This is not meant to imply that those with hearing impairment cannot play in tune ; in fact,
experienced musicians with age-related sensory pitch changes often engage their own "internal damage control" by filling in localized distorted ranges with normal redundant harmonic structure captured elsewhere in the system. I'm sure long term memory involving a lifetime of learning by doing, referred to as crystallized pragmatics plays a role in this process. Likewise , just because the cat sitting beside you is young, good looking, and carries a custom metal-flaked, red, tenor sax does not insure tuning
accuracy even though he undoubtedly is capable of rapid integration and memory retention referred to as fluid mechanics. Fluid mechanics peak near age 25 while crystallized pragmatics can remain a very useful thinking tool throughout one's life.

Tuning issues should be addressed in section fashion. Each player, young or old will have auditory strengths and weaknesses. A group willing to discuss global sound can expect to enjoy the music even more, since individual players strive to be in-sync with others; the end product being fewer pitch breakdowns.

Just remember , when it comes to the sense of hearing, it is the way things are, not necessarily the way they are individually perceived. Visit an audiologist trained in this area should you feel the need for a personal
hearing evaluation.

Journal of the Acoustical Society of America;
Vol. #120, No. 3, September 2006; pp 1446-66,
1493-1505

Journal of the Acoustical Society of America;
Vol. #120, No. 6, December 2006; pp 39073945

Journal of Acoustic Society of America; Vol.
#121, No. 1, January 2007; pp 388-400, 373381