Hi guys!
For context I am a multi-instrumentalist, but my main line up is percussion, bassoon and cello. Since I was little I've also had some struggles with my hearing but nothing too significant and have been able to play music pretty well for nearly 14 years now. However, I am really confused about my tuning techniques.
Since I was little I've never really been able to hear what note an instrument is playing, let alone being able to decipher when one is sharp or flat. However, I've always been able to tell if I'm in tune or not when I play based on the vibrations of my instrument and the feelings in my mouth, fingers ect. I don't really know how to explain it but there is a right and wrong vibration/feeling for when I'm tuning and I haven't met anyone else who does it.
For example the other week I was playing some clarinet for my local ensemble and I was more than sure my tuning wasn't right because the note "didn't tickle my nose or mouth right" and I couldn't feel the vibrations in my fingers from the instrument properly. Sure enough I was extremely flat and was struggling to adjust my tuning because my reed was dead. Another example is when I change my cello strings my tuning is terrible until the strings settle because my cello doesnt feel normal where it rests on me. Sometimes it doesn't feel the same at all and other times I get the same feelings from the instruments but its the wrong note.
I really want to find out what this is, I've talked to my music teacher about it and he said he has heard of someone who studies "alternate tuning techniques" as their Doctorate of Music. I had a google search and cant find them and the closest I get when I describe my tuning using how my instrument feels the closest I get is stuff about humming and mouth tuning forks.
Does anyone know anything about this topic? I'm really lost on it.
Thanks a bunch in advance!!!