Welcome!

This website is designed as a source for band students to help guide you along your journey to better woodwind intonation. Each of the common band instruments has its own page full of information about tuning.

Before continuing on to the page for your instrument, please read the following tuning information that applies to ALL woodwind instruments.

General Tips for Playing In Tune

  • Practice your instrument daily. When thinking about practice time, think quality over quantity!
  • Listen to good artists and music daily. Find recordings of professionals on your instrument and imitate the way that they sound. 
  • Develop your ear. Work on identifying intonation issues and understanding how to fix them. Learn the ways you can adjust pitch on your instrument (this website will help!). 
  • Keep your instrument in good playing condition. Get it adjusted every year by a professional. 

Tuning Truths for All Woodwind Instruments

  • Lengthen the tubing of your instrument to flatten the pitch. Shorten the tubing of your instrument to sharpen the pitch.
  • Higher temperatures will cause your instrument pitch to go sharp. Lower temperatures will cause your instrument pitch to go flat.
  • Increased embouchure firmness will cause sharpness of pitch. Decreased embouchure firmness will cause flatness of pitch.

About Me

My Name is Philip Bossenberger. I am the band director for the Birch Run Area Schools in Birch Run, Michigan. I received my masters degree from The American Band College of Sam Houston State University in 2015. I received my Bachelor of Music Education degree from Eastern Michigan University in 2008.