No abstract

Communication of emotions is of crucial importance in music performance. Yet research has suggested that this skill is neglected in music education. This article presents and evaluates a computer program that automatically analyzes music performances and provides feedback to musicians in order to enhance their communication of emotions. Thirty-six semiprofessional jazz/rock guitar players were randomly assigned to one of 3 conditions: (1) feedback from the computer program, (2) feedback from music teachers, and (3) repetition without feedback. Performance measures revealed the greatest improvement in communication accuracy for the computer program, but usability measures indicated that certain aspects of the program could be improved. Implications for music education are discussed.

The string player controls variations in spectral content mainly via bowv elocity,b ow-bridge distance and bow force. Manyc ombinations of the bowing parameters influence the pitch noticeably as well, in particular close to the upper bow-force limit in the Schelleng diagram. The influence of the bowing parameters on the spectral content and pitch were studied systematically by use of am onochord and ab owing machine. Bowf orce was found to be by farthe most dominant parameter determining the spectral centroid. Bow-bridge distance and bow velocity serveessentially as indirect control parameters of spectral content by giving the player access to playable areas with high or lowbow forces in the Schelleng diagram. Clear areas of pitch flattening could be distinguished belowthe upper bow-force limits in the Schelleng diagrams, confirming the role of pitch flattening as apractical bow-force limit in playing. The conditions for anomalous lowf requencies (ALF), S-motion and other,h igher types of string motion were analyzed, and it wass hown that secondary wavesm ight play an important role in their creation. PACS no. 43.75.De ACTA ACUSTICA UNITED WITH ACUSTICA Schoonderwaldt: The violinist'ssound palette Vol. 95 (2009)

A method is described for measurement of a complete set of bowing parameters in violin performance. Optical motion capture was combined with sensors for accurate measurement of the main bowing parameters (bow position, bow velocity, bow acceleration, bow-bridge distance, and bow force) as well as secondary control parameters (skewness, inclination, and tilt of the bow). In addition, other performance features (moments of on/off in bow-string contact, string played, and bowing direction) were extracted. Detailed descriptions of the calculations of the bowing parameters, features, and calibrations are given. The described system is capable of measuring all bowing parameters without disturbing the player, allowing for detailed studies of musically relevant aspects of bow control and coordination of bowing parameters in bowed-string instrument performance.