Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!lll-crg!styx!ames!ucbcad!ucbvax!hplabs!decwrl!sun!wdl1!jrb
From: jrb@wdl1.UUCP (John R Blaker)
Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: tone deafness
Message-ID: <3360001@wdl1.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 17-Nov-86 18:43:34 EST
Article-I.D.: wdl1.3360001
Posted: Mon Nov 17 18:43:34 1986
Date-Received: Tue, 18-Nov-86 09:08:38 EST
References: <1355@PUCC.BITNET>
Lines: 10

I have been in choirs off and on for 14 years (bass/baritone).  I have also
noticed that choirs tend to go flat when singing a capella.  I remember only
one instance when we didn't go flat.  We ended up a whole tone sharp.  In
most of the choirs I've been in, all the basses were following one person
with a strong voice (ie loud) usually me.  My teacher has pointed out a
tendency for me to go flat (usually 1/8 to 1/4 tone), especially when I haven't
had a chance to warm up.  (An extended warmup period usually helps).  If you
have strong singers, mixing them up (so that noone is next to someone singing
the same part) helps.  Everyone is forced to listen to the cords rather than
just their own part.