Proceedings, Oxford, UK (2002) - World Federation of Music Therapy

• Instrumental technique: C#4 is played in first position with the middle
finger: a finger with a strong joint suitable for playing. This
corresponds to a “down-bow” (from the heel to the head of the bow)
and in the indicated (ascending) sequence is considered comfortable to
use since it is the third sound emitted when the initial adjustment phase
is over;
• Harmonic reasons: in an A-major tonality C # corresponds to the
modal note or character note that determined the tonality. Therefore it
is truly representative of this tonality.
All the C# of the ascending octave played by the 20 violinists were
extracted and copied in a specific musical File. Careful attention was
paid to the various body parts indicated by the experimenter as well as
the “free position” chosen as a baseline. 10 tests per musician were
analysed, amounting to a total of 200 tests.
Spectral analysis was carried out on these sounds using the above-
mentioned Cool Edit Pro version 1.2. The following parameters of sound
were recorded:
• Intensity, measured in decibel;
• Length, measured in minute seconds;
• Frequency, measured in Hertz musically expressing the pitch of the
first harmonic or fundamental note. This corresponds to the intonation
of that sound.
In order to carry out a statistical analysis, the latter values were then
changed into their logarithmic values.
A chart was plotted for each parameter showing the values corresponding
to each position of every musician.
The “free” posture was considered as a baseline value.
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