Wind Instrumentalists' Intonational Performance of Selected Musical Intervals

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine intonation patterns concerning melodic and harmonic musical intervals compared to equal temperament. Forty-eight junior high school, high school, and college undergraduate musicians were assigned to one of four experimental conditions in a split-plot design. Subjects performed four diatonic intervals (major third, perfect fourth, perfect fifth, and major sixth) both melodically and harmonically. Results indicated no significant differences in overall intonation accuracy in relationship to performed ascending and descending directions or among the four test intervals. In relationship to sharpness versus flatness there were significant, if musically inconsequential, differences: when subjects descended, intervals were performed slightly sharper; when subjects ascended, intervals were performed slightly flatter. Junior high school subjects performed slightly sharper compared to college subjects. Differential verbal feedback and a headphone listening condition produced no significant differences.

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