Prac­ti­cal into­na­tion for wind play­ers

This book is also available in Norwegian. Go to the Norwegian book info page.

Many musicians are able to play with good intonation based on a well-developed ear, intuition, and experience. However, it is often beneficial to supplement this with a deeper understanding of the matter. This is particularly true when intonation problems arise that cannot be resolved intuitively, or when playing in ensembles or teaching, where there is a need to discuss intonation explicitly.

The purpose of this book is to provide such knowledge, with a primary focus on music students in secondary and higher educa­tion, instrumental educators, conductors, and interested musicians in general. The book may also serve as a resource for ear training instructors who wish to address intonation in their teaching.

The content is closely tied to musical practice wherever possible. For this reason, the target audience is specifically wind players, and you will find the theoretical and more detailed explanations under the heading ‘*More on...,’ allowing readers to skip these sections if they prefer.

The emphasis on a practical approach also explains why the chapter on foundational concepts appears later in the book. It is up to the reader to use the book in a way that not only builds theoreti­cal knowledge but also develops practical, experience-based knowledge related to the three key components mentioned above. Only through practical experience can you develop sensitivity to intona­tion discrepancies, and the ability to assess your own playing and your role within the broader musical context.

Intonation and ensemble playing

Intonation challenges primarily arise in ensemble playing. Therefore, the process of developing awareness and improving into­nation should take place in collaboration with others. Most of the exercises in this book require at least two participants. This could be a teacher and student, two students, or a small group within a band or orchestra. In many cases, a keyboard instrument is also necessary.

How to read the book

I recommend readers follow the book’s progression during their first use in order to understand the explanations and reasoning, which build upon one another. As noted earlier, you may skip the ‘* More on...’ sections, if desired. After the initial reading, readers can move between chapters as they see fit. In addition to the many exercises designed to provide practical experience with various aspects of intonation, the book includes examples from musical literature and suggestions for how to listen to, reflect upon, and perform these examples.

What is new in this publication?

Practical Intonation for Wind Players was first published in 2009 in Norwegian. This English version is based on a revised edition, released in 2025, which includes additional exercises, illustrations, and examples from musical literature, as well as expanded explana­tions and chapters. This is particularly true for Chapter 6, which addresses harmonic intonation. The Sikt AI chat was used in the first stage of the translation process, before manual reviews by the author and language consultant.

This is an open access publication.

ISSN 2535-373X (digital)
ISBN 978-82-7853-355-0 (pdf)

NMH Publications 2025:6

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