Arrive early and warm up by playing. Double reed players need to put water in reeds as soon as possible, or before arriving for the concert. The physical body, as well as the instrument, needs to be warm for consistent tone and pitch.
Watch the conductor for a signal that tuning is to begin. The first chair oboist will play an A when she is confident that she is in tune. Listen carefully to the oboe, then softly play the note to match. Make adjustments to your instrument if you are sharp or flat.
Proceed with sectional tuning. The first chair oboist gives the A to the brass section, then to the woodwinds. This takes focus and concentration on your part while all instruments in the section are playing. Strings are usually tuned last, lower strings first, then violins.
Double-check by playing various octave jumps, low to high, high to low. If there is time, tune within your section to the notes A, D and F. The D minor chord notes allow for tuning and warming of different lengths of the woodwind and brass pipe.
Play an A with the entire orchestra at the instruction of the conductor. Make any last-minute adjustments in tuning, and watch for the first piece in the concert to begin.