Unable to simply hear that I'm out of pitch
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After sitting the trumpet down for 40 years, I find myself struggling with finding the pitch on various notes. I don't have perfect pitch, but I don't ever remember struggling with this in the Marine Corps. I have a tuner and microphone attached to my bell so I can keep an eye on pitch now. I'm wondering if it's a symptom of possibly the following:
- Ear has simply become untrained to hear the correct pitch
- Hearing is not as good as it used to be.
- Not playing enough with others. When I'm playing with others (who can themselves be in tune), then I can tune myself with others.
- combination of the above or something else...
Anybody with teaching experience comment on probable causes?
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Hard to advise without more detail and being there to watch and hear.
The most important question is: How long has it been since you have been back on the trumpet? It takes weeks (on average 6 weeks) to tone muscle to the point of getting a consistent response. Time playing may be a relevant issue.
Once the basic embouchure development is well underway, than yes, playing with others and listening and then hearing the changes you need to make would be of high value.
Is the trumpet in need of repair? Have you had other experienced trumpet players play your trumpet and if so, is the intonation fine when others play? If so, we can likely exclude instrument contribution out of the discussion.
