Note 11 — PART I. The instrument.

The A may be taken from a pitch pipe, tuning fork, or piano, which should be maintained at concert pitch. In old violins, if the belly has yielded to pressure under the right foot of the bridge, it is well after playing to let down the first string. If a string is too flat, pull it up about a tone above the proper pitch, let it so remain for a few seconds and then lower it to the correct pitch. If too sharp, reverse the process. Only the A must be taken from a keyboard instrument, the fifths on the keyboard being not quite perfect, but “tempered”. Perfect fifths can only be obtained by a good deal of practice. Advanced students may test the tuning quietly by taking any two adjacent strings (with the little finger equally on both) in harmonics, or by beating lightly with the stick on the string. In the course of a piece, if even this is not possible, a slight pressure above the nut will sharpen a string, tugging it between nut and bridge will flatten; but this must only be regarded as a temporary expedient. Tr.