Fine-tuning

Team Members: Suzie Zhong, Narada Tipyananukul, Joy Wu, Sabrina Yu

Abstract:

Fine-tuning is a piece that depicts a magnified perspective of the musical instrument- violin. The instrument, a metaphor for what was once background music for our daily lives and routines, has now become a major component of our lives, in these struggling times. As disturbances and events around us are postponed, the importance and meaning of music to us as individuals, slowly but surely surfaces. 

With a new importance placed onto music, we also took a new perspective into viewing the miracle of the instrument which was created to permit these sounds we listen to on a daily basis. By magnifying all components important to the instrument itself, we attempt to bring these small instruments into larger value within our own lives. We explored the different aspects of what makes and gives the instrument the value it holds, in our opinion, to gain a deeper understanding of how or what sound is being created, and also develop a greater appreciation for the complicated components (from the material, altering, to sound and textures) that come together as a result. The components that we explored include: the strings, texture (not restricted to the physical texture of the instrument; open to interpretation), the space within the violin, the neck and tuning keys, as well as the overall shape and perspectives of looking at the instrument.

Fine-tuning is a mashup of videos and audio recordings created and documented by all members of the collaboration. It dives into the distorted views of the instrument, created by our brand new perspective and focus of the instrument; like that of the visual processing effect that occurs when you look at something for too long, and it starts to lose its shape or presence. By placing such a heavy focus looking at the violin itself, we’ve lost track of its original and supposed shape, as we now view it in very different perspectives, which is presented in subsequent shots. Through our video, we hope to bring the audience on a journey which explores often neglected parts of the violin; as if you were on a haunted house ride (but without any of the haunt), to have the audience also gain a new appreciation for the complex instrument, and the parts that enable it to create such a range of sounds.