How often do we start working on a phrase to build its contours, find its climaxes, colors, inflections etc. only to be completely distracted by our intonation? How can we move on when it’s out of tune?? Well- in my opinion, we should stop and work on the intonation until it feels relatively secure and then go back to the business of taking care of that phrase. But then what if it’s in tune but has lost all of its direction and sense of line, etc…. !! This is certainly a challenge that most of us deal with every day, right?
I feel very strongly in compartmentalizing our practice- or practice in layers, if you will. So as we’re working on a musical line continue the process by exploring different contours, colors, etc. and do our absolute best to only be aware of our pitch flaws (and not obsess over them!) but to move past them so we can get some successful work done on that phrase. Then of course go back and work on the pitch issue. Then maybe add the phrasing work but without vibrato. And when that sounds pretty good put all the layers together at once…. by leading with the bow/our voice of course! 🙂
