How To Play More in Tune | Ear Training, Tuning Systems & Mind-Body Connection

With many tuning systems, there is no such thing as absolutely perfect intonation. To play the most in tune we can on the violin (or any other unfretted stringed instrument) requires a combination of stellar sense of relative pitch combined with deliberate, active listening and a reliable instrument setup and left hand technique foundation. This combination of ear training and physical technique is the mind-body connection (or ear - finger connection, if that makes more sense to you) that allows us to play in tune consistently.

In this video I demonstrate how to practice intonation of the beginning of Bach's Allemande from the d minor Partita by using the internal aural skills. Also a brief introduction to distinguish 'pythagorean tuning' system from 'just intonation' system, and why using a drone isn't always a great helper for playing in tune.

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WHO AM I?
Inna Langerman
•Violin teacher
•Chamber music coach
•Assistant concertmaster at Manhattan Opera Studio
•Section violinist at New Amsterdam Opera
•Owner/CEO of Violinna | Violinna Live Academy

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[jenshoffmann]

All your videos about intonation have given me so much. Through your videos I have a clear idea that good intonation always involves three perspectives: the perspective that *feels* intonation is right (the audience perspective), the perspective that *knows* intonation is right (the theoretically perspective) and the perspective that *hears* intonation is right (the well ear-trained musicians perspective). Thank you so much!

[zeniktorres]

Like your approach to this. You covered alot in this one, hope you can expand on it later.

[AprilClaytonflute]

Great stuff to think about! Thank you!

[CarolruizNlpiano]

Great video! I totally agree ! Ear training it’s so important...in violin it’s like essential!
But also for piano, we don’t have to tune, but listening to the sound you want before to produce it it’s (in my opinion) the key to a good quality!

[LatchezarDimitrov]

Do you use perfect fifths when you tune your violin?

[LeeJaePhangPianist]

Another great video! Thank you! 😄👏🏻 The mind-body connection is also very important for playing well on the piano, even though pianists never have to worry about tuning. Simply put, if the mind is not ahead of the fingers at all times, there's really not much chance of playing with a singing tone because only some notes will be well taken care of.

And brilliant choice of Bach too!

[xiaoleideng]

good video. I think it is also important to emphasize and demonstrate work on intonation without vibrato.

[joselevicanasenjo]

interesting! a little comfusing though. You talk about checking the open string, but then implied changing the tuning... was the video edited and lost some info?

[violinow]

This video made me to subscribe. Can you please make a video of listening to overtone for intonation (double stop). Thanks.