The intonation violinists play
On the violin, tuning also depends on context. Two notes played together need to blend, while notes in a melody may be adjusted slightly by ear. Avilo accounts for these differences in its exercises.
- Double stops: Avilo checks how the two notes tune together
- Scales: small pitch adjustments made by ear are accepted, but not required
- Other exercises: each note is checked against a reference at your chosen tuning pitch
Tolerances based on measurements
How far off is out of tune? Avilo's levels follow what researchers measured on real violinists: beginners stray about 20 cents in scales (Pardue and McPherson, 2019), professionals about 10 in very slow scales (Loosen, 1993).
| Level | Distance accepted | Notes in tune for a good set |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | ±30 cents | 70 % |
| Intermediate | ±18 cents | 75 % |
| Advanced | ±12 cents | 80 % |
To pass a set, that percentage of notes must fall within your level’s pitch tolerance. The margin narrows as your level increases and is 50% wider for the landing note of a shift. Where rhythm is assessed, the same percentage of notes must also be in time.
Turn what you hear into useful feedback
Avilo follows the pitch and the volume of your sound from the start to the end of each note. This lets it measure:
- A shift: the glide, how far it overshoots, how long it takes to settle on the note
- Vibrato: its speed in oscillations per beat and its width in cents
- Each bow stroke: even, swelling or fading, from the volume through the stroke
- Rhythm: each note ahead of or behind the beat
- Pulse: when the metronome goes silent for a few bars, whether you rush or drag, and by how much
Varied exercises to strengthen your skills
Keys, strings, fingers, positions, rhythms and bowings vary between sets. You can also repeat a set exactly. To pass a stage, complete three different sets at your level’s target tempo; your best attempt counts for each set.
The violin methods behind each stage
Avilo does not reproduce the methods: its exercises follow their order and are inspired by them.
| Theme | Inspired by |
|---|---|
| Fingers | Ševčík op. 6 (the system of half steps), Schradieck book 1 |
| Scales and arpeggios | Hřímalý, Scale Studies; Flesch, Scale System (scales on one string) |
| Positions and shifts | Ševčík op. 1 and op. 8 (shifts by distance), Hřímalý, Flesch, Sitt op. 32 |
| Vibrato | Galamian, Flesch |
| Double stops | Ševčík op. 9 |
| Trills | Ševčík op. 7, Schradieck |
| Sound, strokes and slurs | Ševčík op. 2 |
| String crossings | Schradieck book 1 |
| Sight-reading | The nine grades of the ABRSM exams, Initial to Grade 8 |
The studies and pieces, on the other hand, are played as written: Kayser, Wohlfahrt, Mazas, Kreutzer and Sitt, Bach, Vivaldi, Rieding and Beethoven, from public-domain editions.
Your sound stays on your phone
Avilo listens to your violin and measures intonation and rhythm directly on your phone, while you play. There is no account, and nothing you play is sent over the Internet. Your recordings and your progress stay in the app, and you can export them.