I wish I had learned Western music the way I was taught (as an adult) Hindustani music. In that tradition, you don't touch an instrument (including percussion which has its own signing language--konnakol) until you've had years of singing patterns. Thank you for this.
Those apps are helpful for seeing where you're at, but in all reality, screwing around at the piano and learning whatever comes to mind has improved my ear the most, by far. Also, people really love it when they can show you a song and you can play along with it instantly.
As a child I learned to recognize intervals by associating them with songs, like Ma-RI-A. Also I played the violin, which is great for developing an ear for pitch. In college we sang melodies at sight and took harmonic dictation. The teachers of those classes were very demanding so we had to learn fast or die. Berkowitz was the book we used (aka Berzerkowitz). Then harmonic, melodic and rhythmic dictation. My teacher for that class was a jazz player so we notated lots of jazz tunes. I think I could still notate that Freddie Hubbard piece we were given. Thanks for some new approaches!
I've been using an app for awhile now called "Functional Ear Trainer" which uses different a tonic reference point and increases in difficulty (starting with C major in one octave, then multiple octaves, then random major keys, eventually minor and chromatics etc). I actually found it has really helped, and I especially like using it when I'm in a situation where I can't sit at a piano, such as commuting on a train, waiting in line at the grocery store, brewing my morning coffee etc. However in the past year I've also started to learn how to sing and have begun to transcribe works I enjoy by ear (no cheating either, I will not look up sheet music or tabs online; I want to really force myself to use my ear and no crutches). Now I swear by these two methods most of all - singing and transcribing, much like you mentioned in the video. Transcribing was painfully difficult at first but I'm getting better which I think is a great sign my ear is improving. I look forward to adding chord ear training at the piano as you suggested. Thanks!
Excellent advice. I have been hearing a tune singing it then playing it. And that has helped tremendously in my ear training. But now as you suggest I will be singing the numbers- the intervals between one note to the next then playing it. Thank you so much for that insightful tip!
A really interesting presentation, Cole - thank you so much. Your suggestions certainly are very helpful for developing a 'musical ear' that can inform all aspects of performance. Of course, if I could rub the proverbial lamp so that a genie would pop out and grant me three musical wishes . . . well, my first wish would be the gift of (effortlessly!) 'playing by ear'. I have always marvelled at - and been more than a little envious of - those pianists who needed no instruction on how to just sit and just play any music requested of them. For lesser mortals, it's a long haul up a steep mountain to reach the summit and be able to play by ear competently! I won't bore you with my other two musical wishes . . . but if I told my genie I wanted to play the piano like Dr Cole Anderson, I suspect he would tell my that wish was beyond his magical powers to fulfil! (The request would have to be to work as hard as you and be as dedicated when striving for success.) And by the way, I think you have a lovely singing voice!
I wish I had learned Western music the way I was taught (as an adult) Hindustani music. In that tradition, you don't touch an instrument (including percussion which has its own signing language--konnakol) until you've had years of singing patterns. Thank you for this.
Those apps are helpful for seeing where you're at, but in all reality, screwing around at the piano and learning whatever comes to mind has improved my ear the most, by far. Also, people really love it when they can show you a song and you can play along with it instantly.
I always felt there had to be a better way to do ear training!
Cole, Such incredible information. Thank you.
Thank you for these helpful advices
As a child I learned to recognize intervals by associating them with songs, like Ma-RI-A. Also I played the violin, which is great for developing an ear for pitch. In college we sang melodies at sight and took harmonic dictation. The teachers of those classes were very demanding so we had to learn fast or die. Berkowitz was the book we used (aka Berzerkowitz). Then harmonic, melodic and rhythmic dictation. My teacher for that class was a jazz player so we notated lots of jazz tunes. I think I could still notate that Freddie Hubbard piece we were given. Thanks for some new approaches!
Super helpful, really like having training video thrown into your weekly mix. Keep it up.
I've been using an app for awhile now called "Functional Ear Trainer" which uses different a tonic reference point and increases in difficulty (starting with C major in one octave, then multiple octaves, then random major keys, eventually minor and chromatics etc). I actually found it has really helped, and I especially like using it when I'm in a situation where I can't sit at a piano, such as commuting on a train, waiting in line at the grocery store, brewing my morning coffee etc.
However in the past year I've also started to learn how to sing and have begun to transcribe works I enjoy by ear (no cheating either, I will not look up sheet music or tabs online; I want to really force myself to use my ear and no crutches). Now I swear by these two methods most of all - singing and transcribing, much like you mentioned in the video. Transcribing was painfully difficult at first but I'm getting better which I think is a great sign my ear is improving. I look forward to adding chord ear training at the piano as you suggested. Thanks!
Excellent advice. I have been hearing a tune singing it then playing it. And that has helped tremendously in my ear training. But now as you suggest I will be singing the numbers- the intervals between one note to the next then playing it. Thank you so much for that insightful tip!
This is good; I recommend using sol-fa syllables so that you can dive into chromatic sight singing...
Improvisation is everything imo.
A really interesting presentation, Cole - thank you so much. Your suggestions certainly are very helpful for developing a 'musical ear' that can inform all aspects of performance. Of course, if I could rub the proverbial lamp so that a genie would pop out and grant me three musical wishes . . . well, my first wish would be the gift of (effortlessly!) 'playing by ear'. I have always marvelled at - and been more than a little envious of - those pianists who needed no instruction on how to just sit and just play any music requested of them. For lesser mortals, it's a long haul up a steep mountain to reach the summit and be able to play by ear competently! I won't bore you with my other two musical wishes . . . but if I told my genie I wanted to play the piano like Dr Cole Anderson, I suspect he would tell my that wish was beyond his magical powers to fulfil! (The request would have to be to work as hard as you and be as dedicated when striving for success.) And by the way, I think you have a lovely singing voice!
Thank you so much!
I used to tune my double bass strings by simply singing a small scale to the next string (up). Your way would make this more sure. Great, thank you.
Nice pick by ABBA,. Dancing Queen!!!!
Do you have perfect pitch?
🙌 workin
Someone could write here the name of the composer who mentioned on minute 3:14? Thanks!
That was Frederic Rzewski-“The People United Will Never Be Defeated” is probably his most famous piece.
for the Db in the phrygian you would sing 2? also if you had an ascending chromatic line(C,C#,D)would you sing 1,1,2?
Quick fix: leave solfège
I always sing melodies first.
could you pleas meak a viedo on how to read music ?
Get a basic book. And go slow and steady. You could also get a sight singing book and to learn notes and develop your ear.
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