Suzuki Violin Book 4 - Conecto No.5 by Seitz?

I'm working on Seitz's Concerto No. 5 and my tutor is telling me that i'm not playing the double stop passage in tune. (I'm in the Key of D (C# %26amp; F#) so should i put my tuner so it plays a D or should i put it a C# or F# or is it more of a concern to play the two notes in the double stop in tune? Is there any tips of playing in in tune or any really good recordings of it in tune? Or any good tips of just in general playing this piece or double stops in tune?

Suzuki Violin Book 4 - Conecto No.5 by Seitz?
Your tuner will not help with playing double stops. I usually play each note individually as I practice the solos until I know what they sound like; then I put them together and play them over and over until I know what they sound like together. It's kind of like learning 5ths; once you know what they sound like, you can tune more easily. There are some good double-stop exercises in the "Preparing for Kreutzer" exercise book by Whistler; also in the Trott Double stop books. You just have to practice, practice, practice. After a while, you'll know what the different intervals sound like and you'll be able to hear whether they're in tune. It's like anything else. Practice makes perfect.
Reply:I play viola but I've done this song for a couple auditions. =) The parts may be a bit different but in mine the double stops all include an open string other than the final one.I would suggest playing them very slowly or one note of the double stop at a time and listening closely to be sure they ring.





Sorry if the parts are different. Like I said I'm a viola.
Reply:Since the violin is not equal tempered, I don't recommend using a tuner for anything but the open strings.





To study double stops, you should get the Josephine Trott books. See:





Josephine Trott Melodious Doublstops: Bk. 1, Bk. 2.


http://beststudentviolins.com/sheetmusic...
Reply:Play the two notes in the double stop in tune.
Reply:This is a fun piece, and it sounds really awesome when you can play it well! For the double stop section, I don't think using your tuner is the answer here. The good news is that in this section both fingers rarely move at the same time, so you are only checking one new note every time you play a new double stop. If you are ready to play these patterns then it is time for you to start relying on your own ears. Play one note of the two, make sure it is in tune. Then check the other note. Play them together, and listen carefully for the interval. Have a friend play them on a piano so you can match if you want, but if you run to your tuner twice for every double stop then you will spend more time with your tuner than your instrument.





It really helps if you can put a character to each section of the Seitz concertos...to differentiate the changes in style and technique. I like to make the opening really silly...get that bow off the string as much as you can! The slow passage is a great place to add some vibrato or other showy touches (like that C# to F#, I'll slide up into third position there and really drag it out).





If you struggle with the double stop section, you are likely to slow it down. DO NOT take back off again when you hit the easier section again, that is like holding up a big sign that says "I can't control my tempo" to a judge.





Great piece, and good luck!