Tone quality and intonation
- Tune the instrument independently with accuracy, and recognise when retuning is necessary
- Recognise and play with secure Intonation across the whole range of the instrument:
- adjusting and effecting subtle changes
- Play with a consistent, refined tone quality across the complete compass and dynamic range:
- using different tone colours/timbres, according to the style of the music
Demonstrate and discuss with learners ways of playing with consistent, refined tone quality across the complete compass and dynamic range.
Ask learners to tune the instrument independently:
- using more than one note
- focusing on tuning in warm-ups, e.g. octaves, fifths
Continue to encourage learners to:
- introduce alternative fingerings and harmonics to enable secure intonation in more advanced repertoire
- experiment with the idiosyncratic notes of each individual instrument, learning how to compensate at different dynamic levels
Encourage learners to explore different tone colours/timbres, according to the style of the music. Ask them to experiment with the effects that different vowel sounds have on tone colour in different ranges.
Ask learners to devise exercises to develop varying speeds and intensity of vibrato, according to the style of the music.
Ask learners to learn pieces that demonstrate how tone quality affects the atmosphere of the piece, e.g. Poulenc Sonatas.
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