High school string players’ perceptions of violin, trumpet, and voice intonation.

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Rebecca B. MacLeod, Associate Professor (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/

Abstract: We studied young string players’ perception of intonation in accompanied solo performances of trumpet, voice, and violin. We were interested in whether pitch deviations of equal magnitude in the three solo performances would be judged as equivalent in intonation. Listeners were 71 middle and high school string players who heard trumpet, voice, and violin performances of “Ave Maria” (Bach/ Gounod) accompanied by piano. Pitch levels of the soloists were in-tune or became progressively more sharp or flat (by 10, 20, and 30 cents) relative to the accompaniment. Intonation changes in the sharp direction were judged as more out-of-tune for the violin than equivalent alterations of voice and trumpet. In flat direction changes, violin was also heard as slightly more out-of-tune than the other soloists for deviations of 30 cents, but was judged similar to the other two for deviations of 10 and 20 cents. Additional research is necessary to investigate whether this outcome was a result of these string players’ heightened sensitivity to string intonation.

Additional Information

Publication
Language: English
Date: 2012
Keywords
string instruments, intonation, music perception, music performance, string music education

Email this document to