Have your students complete an intonation chart of their full range so they begin to develop an awareness of their pitch tendencies. While also practicing with a tuner, OUTSIDE of class! Make it a graded assignment.

How do you define active listening levels? While using the drone direct the students listening to:

1. How is my individual pitch in relation to the drone? Brighter (sharp) or duller (flat)? Do you hear waves in your sound?

2. Once you feel they are matching the drone, turn it off and stress SECTION listening! Are they matching across their section.

3. Once that sounds more dialed in, ask them to listen across the ensemble.

Another idea: OVERTONES! Talk about overtones. Have them play unison concert F and drone a concert C that is above the flutes in register. Ask them to listen for it. Then slowly make it quieter and quieter, but ask them to continue listening for the overtone. If they are balanced, blended, and in tune, you will hear a CLEAR overtone in the room.

Just a couple more ideas!