Dear Alma, How do I teach a student who’s tone-deaf?

Dear Alma,

I am a graduate assistant at a college which offers lessons to any student who signs up. One of my students isn’t exactly tone deaf (she can sing and match pitches), but she plays so out of tune and doesn’t hear it to the point she’s not even playing in a consistent key signature and she’s several whole steps off.

I’m truly bamboozled by my student with intonation problems and so was my professor who gave her to me. Sometimes (very rarely) she does play 50-60% in tune and it’s always incredible! I know she’s capable of fixing this problem, I just haven’t figured out how to address it in the right way yet.

Ear Drum-Bummed

Dear Ear Drum-Bummed,

That certainly is a difficult one. How odd that she can match pitch while singing but not on her instrument. I am assuming she is a string player.

Have you talked to her about it? If so, is she defensive, aware, or interested in finding a solution? Start by trying to understand where she is coming from.

I have a student who is very intelligent, kind and patient. She has been with me for a number of years. A lot of things are improving, as is her pitch, but she does seem to have some kind of serious disconnect or inability to hear pitch.

I have tried a number of things, such as giving her very basic etudes and playing a drone under her notes. I also ask her to highlight all of the notes that are the same as her open strings, pausing on those to check intonation. I have used a tuner (in very small sections) challenging her to remain in the “green” for every note in a measure. I also record her on my phone and we listen back together. She and I both independently mark things we would like to work on and compare them. I ask her to make short recordings for her homework for the week.

Basically I try to develop many different ways of looking at the issue. I also sometimes just work on something completely different, such as bow exercises on open strings or rhythm etudes. I avoid getting too obsessed.

Ear-drum bummed, keep it fresh. Involve her in the process. Help her hear herself objectively. And try to remember that she is there because she wants to be, because she loves it. And channel that positive attitude.

Questions for Alma? Please put them in the comments section or send to DearAlmaQuery@gmail.com 

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