The Art of Intonation: A Practical Guide to Tuning for Violin and Viola

As string players, we spend an enormous amount of time thinking about intonation. We are often told that a note is either “in tune” or “out of tune,” and many of us grow up believing that somewhere there is one perfectly correct location for every note.

The reality is much more interesting.

Because the violin and viola have no frets, we have the freedom—and the responsibility—to determine the exact pitch of every fingered note. The best placement of a note can change depending on the harmony, the instruments playing with us, the musical style, and the expressive function of the note.

This course is about learning how to hear those differences and make intentional decisions about intonation.