I notice from the General Regulations for Bowed Strings that you're not required to tune your own instrument until Grade 6 (several years downline for me). But my question is this: at Grade 6, are you *required* to tune perfect fifths by ear, starting from the highest string with pitch referenced by the piano? Or is it considered acceptable to tune equal-temperament fifths using an electric tuner (though adjusting for the piano if it's not at A=440 Hz). A third alternative I guess would be to tune each string directly to the corresponding note on the piano?

At lower grades, is it OK for me to take the electric tuner along and tune ET fifths?

Anyway, I guess this is a minor concern at my level: it's just out of interest really.

Many thanks!

Bear in mind that whatever level you play at if you are accompanied by a piano you should be in tune with the piano. Even if the piano is a bit flat or sharp, take your A from the piano.

I'm not sure how an examiner would react to any candidate tuning their instrument from an electronic tuner. It's something they would certainly frown on in higher grades, when you are expected to have developed a reasonable ability in relative pitch and interval recognition.

Personally, when I'm doing any recital type of work, I take my A from the piano and then tune the other strings in fifths by ear.

Thanks Amanda

I've generally been tuning by tuner up to now (i.e. for just over 2 years); apart from anything else, in the early days bowing two strings at once with reasonable smoothness was much too difficult. Anyway, yesterday I tried by ear, which took me rather a long time but came out OK (though I had some problems with the C string, which ended up about 7 cents sharp). I'll keep practicing: doesn't seem too difficult.

Difficult is sight-reading

Thanks again!

I have just thought, I am accompanying some violins (grade 1) on Friday for the first time. What happens if their violin is out of tune? Am I expected to tune it?
I suppose I could but it is years since I played!

Is the violin teacher going to be there as well??

If so, they will probably tune the violins just as each one goes into the exam room.
If not then it will probably be up to you - unless any of the parents can tune violins or there is another violin teacher there who can help out. The examiner certainly won't do any tuning.

Once you've got the hang of it, you'll wonder why on earth you couldn't do it before