Intonation Problems Solved By Mouthpieces

Jeremy Ragan, Georgia College & State University

Abstract

This paper address concerns of intonation in the middle school band classroom. Based on research and experimentation, the best approaches to improving intonation are identified. In particular, close observation of Shelley Jagow’s work points to the tuning of mouthpieces as a possible solution. An experiment was conducted check to see if mouthpiece tuning can affect the tuning of the whole instrument. Results show that more than seventy percent of students show intonation improvements. Keywords: Intonation, Middle School, Wind Instruments, Mouthpieces