Abstract:

Intonation is a complex skill involving at least two associated skills. Perceptually, it involves the ability to discriminate aurally between two different tones. In relation to production, it involves the ability to reproduce or imitate a previously heard tone.. These two skills involve three basic functions: timing, sequencing and spatial organisation of movements, which have to be coordinated for sound production. However, there is a gap in knowledge about how this coordination takes place. It is assumed that some kind of mental representation would be necessary for this coordination, as well as cognitive processes and proprioceptive knowledge.

Although the concept of sound image or representation has been discussed. It has been defined as an idealised representation that constitutes a goal of musical interpretation or as an organised compendium interpreted by the subject that reflects the understanding of the original work. There is no consensus on its nature, content, origin, generation or relationships with other cognitive entities, although evidence of use by musicians has been found. One of the problems with instrumental intonation as a sonic parameter is that the expected sound in performance does not necessarily have to be acoustically accurate, as musicians produce intentional frequency deviations for expressive purposes in certain musical contexts.

Melodic and harmonic context, register, timbre, instrument type, vibrato and portamento also constitute other factors affecting instrumental intonation. Based on the above, it could be argued that intonation is a critical factor during the initial learning of brass and fretted string instruments. People who begin studying these instruments do not have the same cognitive-motor schemas for sound production as students already initiated in the instrument which would imply a high extrinsic cognitive load or learning difficulty.

This study describes the design and implementation of a software solution for the real-time training and assessment of intonation on fretted string instruments (violin, viola and cello) and brass instruments (trumpet, horn and trombone) in the initial stage of instrumental learning. For this purpose, a design based on sciences research methodology has been carried out. In this paper, its first four phases are described:
(1) needs detection;
(2) innovations and iterations;
(3) results;
(4) final design.

The final product has been pre-evaluated with an excellent reception by the participating teachers; however, its validation by teachers and students of the instruments addressed is still pending.

Keywords:

Music education, software design, intonation, teaching of brass instruments, teaching of stringed instruments.