FAQ's

1) Why do I need Tuneup? I already have a tuner...

A tuner trains you to use your eyes to determine if you are in tune. Tuneup develops the ear ! By listening with a trained ear, each player in the ensemble continually adjusts. This is call “real world” skills.

2) I use steady drones now. What makes Tuneup better?

First, the timbre developed for Tuneup exposes the “beats” of pitch discrepancy far quicker than a synthesizer or tone generator. But most importantly, Tuneup provides full chords, both Major and minor, to play against. In a sense, Tuneup completes the work done with drones by providing the practical application of intervals in the chord study.

3) For what instruments is Tuneup designed?

The ones you were born with: your ears! Tuneup trains the singer or player first to hear and reproduce Pure Intervals with the voice. Then, the instrumentalist extends those skills to their particular instrument. As the old saying goes “If you can't sing it, you can't play it!”

4) Does Tuneup work with stringed instruments? Choral groups?

Absolutely! Again, Tuneup trains the ear. With a trained ear, the player then applies it to their instrument, whether violin, horn or voice.

Tuneup is especially effective for Madrigal and period vocal groups. Such groups as the Hilliard Ensemble and the Tallis Scholars use Pure Harmony with stunning results.

5) How can I use Tuneup in my private studio?

As stated in the Tuneup text/workbook, “The skill of the ensemble cannot exceed the skill of its members”. As a private instructor, one of your most important duties is to develop the students' ability to hear and adjust. One could spend hours in the private lesson, but for about half the cost of a single lesson, the student could develop these skills on their own time with Tuneup. You would simply check their progress in the lesson.

6) As an ensemble director, I already warmup with chorales. Why is Tuneup better?

Chorales are fantastic! The problem is that the fundamental skill to perform them effectively must be taught on an individual basis. As a director, you certainly don't have time to work with each student. Once you have assigned a Key to work on for the week with Bootcamp or Tuneup: Trainer, the student comes to rehearsal with the adjustments needed for that Key already prepared. The ensemble plays with the Basic Training CD, then the CD is turned off and the ensemble does it by themselves. Using the CD is like playing in an ensemble that plays perfectly in tune. As the student applies what was learned the week before, ensemble intonation skyrockets!

7) At what age should a player begin to use Tuneup?

Since Tuneup trains the ear, not the instrument, there is really no age too young. Practically speaking, the player must have the ability to produce a moderately steady pitch. Generally in the second or third year on the instrument.

8) Why is Tuneup better than other intonation training tools on the market?

While the fundamental approach may be the same, the detail and the holistic approach presented by Tuneup insures progress from introduction to performance. Tuneup provides the basic theory behind musical acoustics, a systematic introduction to Pure Harmony and the combination of drones and major/minor chord studies that polishes the players skills to professional level. All this is provided in a format far more convenient than a computer program or a simple tuner drone.

9) I play in tune already. Why do I need Tuneup?

Hmmm. On a recent visit with one of the top orchestra brass sections in the world, several members chose not to show up. Later that day, in rehearsal, those were the very culprits of the intonation problems. The finest players in the world continually seek to improve their skills whether it be tone or facility or intonation. Check your attitude!

10) What if I buy Tuneup and it doesn't work for me?

Then you are not using Tuneup properly. To date, not a single player has failed to improve using Tuneup as prescribed. While there is a money back guarantee, it is far better to struggle through the system rather than give up!

More questions? Email us at : info@tuneupsystems.com