ear training! I really need some help.

mai · Post by **mai** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 11:53 am

hi everyone I''m a beginner
musician...have been playing flute for about an year (I''m 20) I guess some of
you have already thought of my question... how can I develop my ear so it would
recognize the notes? (I feel Im horrible at that) I find that skill really
important when I try to improvise with people.. and I really miss it! I know it
has to do with natural talent and there are also websites with programs - but I
don''t own one. I''d really appreaciate anyone that could help! I''m
stuck! thanks and have a nice day.

Crazy · Post by **Crazy** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 6:11 pm

One thing I have used (since
I'm fairly new also) is a tuner. I used it for about a month to make sure my
flute was in tune after putting it together. It's been a while since I used it
everytime...now I just check myself and I usually have it right. Good Luck.

MvAuMsPrInCeSs06 · Post by **MvAuMsPrInCeSs06** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 9:53 pm

Here are a few things that I
did, which helped me to develope a good ear for music. There is a website,
www.musicnotes.com, that lets you listen to free sample sheetmusic. You can
listen and play at the same time. If you can play what you can hear and see, you
can eventually play what you just hear. I was also in a marching band for 1
semester at school, were everyone has different parts in the music, and after I
mastered my part, I would listen for other parts, and play along with them. I
did the same in a church orchestra. I hope that something will work for you,
[:)]

Cleartone · Post by **Cleartone** » Sun Apr 11, 2004 2:15 pm

Well, the most proven way to
train your ear to improvise is to take a recording (CD, record) and try to pick
the melody up by ear. Also if you can, if it is a jazz recording improvise over
the solos of the original artist, but you definitley don't have to take a jazz
recording to do this. Pick something you like that is at a level you think you
could accomplish. Remember no sheet music. You must do it only by ear. I checked
out musicnote.com and found it interesting, however, improv is based upon upon
rhythms as well. Not only are you coming up with melodies but also rhythms.
Musicnote.com is way too straight on the rhythms plus they give you the sheet
music to read along. Remember again, no sheet music, otherwise you will not
benefit from the ear-training. There are other ways to improve your ear. Sing.
Even join a choir. a pre-requisite of music school is a class call sight-sing
ear training where you learn sight read melodies with help by your ear and
notation. Most of these classes come with books and CDs than take you to amazing
levels with this skill. It sounds like you have had some experience with
"jamming" with your friends. Keep doing this. case in point, last night I was
hired by a band. All they gave me was a CD of the songs they were going to do
the same day of the show. I didn't have time to practice it, so I went to the
show cold so to speak. I knew that the chord progressions were basic, so I
wasn't to nervous about being able to pull off the job. Well, they had a
microphone ready to go. when I figured out the chords and key of the tune they
were playing, i went to my microphone and started to play my first solo. Guess
what? I couldn't hear myself. Everything was so loud that the rest of the band
drowned my monitor out. I looked for the sound person and gave him a thumbs up
which means turn the monitor up. Nothing. so, what do you do when you can't
hear yourself and know that the audience can. Scary, yes. well, I know what key
and scales are appropriate and stuck to a safe solo using my experience of the
past of playing by ear to pull me through. Later in the evening the monitor
problem was solved. Thank God. but playing by ear is a very valuble tool. You
are right in assuming that it is a varying skill from person to person, but this
doesn't mean you can't do it or improve upon it. Good luck and keep in touch.
Also check out the series by Jamey Aebersold at your nearest sheet music store.
Start with the blues one.

MvAuMsPrInCeSs06 · Post by **MvAuMsPrInCeSs06** » Sun Apr 11, 2004 2:33 pm

[quote] ---------------- On
4/11/2004 2:15:42 PM Remember no sheet music. You must do it only by ear. I
checked out musicnote.com and found it interesting, however, improv is based
upon upon rhythms as well. Not only are you coming up with melodies but also
rhythms. Musicnote.com is way too straight on the rhythms plus they give you the
sheet music to read along. Remember again, no sheet music, otherwise you will
not benefit from the ear-training. That is an opinion, and what works for me and
you doesn't work for everyone... different people have different learning
styles. [:p]

Cleartone · Post by **Cleartone** » Sun Apr 11, 2004 2:43 pm

Makayla, I wasn't trying to
shoot your idea down, It is just that the question was about playing by ear. The
musicnote.com site is not geared for teaching people to "play by ear" with other
musicians. It does look like it is a fun site to play along with the notes and
provides audio at the same time. so it is a tool which would help your ear in
playing in an ensemble environment. it also looks like it may be good for you in
sight-reading. I will definitely look at it more. Thanks for turning me on to
it.

PiccChick · Post by **PiccChick** » Sun Apr 11, 2004 11:50 pm

well- people ask me if i have
perfect pitch-close-but no i dont-but what really helps me is choir-and
improvising on piano-choir helps a lot-ub become familiar with the pitches and
in our choir at least u practice sight singing which helps hearing pitch. maybe
it comes naturally-it did to beethoven!hope this helps a little![;)]

MonikaFL · Post by **MonikaFL** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 12:10 pm

Mai, when I went through
college ear training/sight singing, I found that learning to recognize intervals
opened a whole new world for me... I was starting to improvise when I always
thought I'd never be able to. We were taught songs to help us recognize
intervals. For example, a major 3 sounds like the first 2 notes in "Kum Bah
Yah", a perfect 4th sounds like "Here Comes the Bride", perfect 5th like
"Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", etc. As you become more familiar with playing the
flute, the theory/ear training should start to tie itself in.

sara_mrvica · Post by **sara_mrvica** » Fri Apr 30, 2004 1:10 pm

ahhh...ear training..
personally, i fear this because i hav not done it before and if i go to music
college, they are going to test me on this. i have tried to play the notes along
with music...sometimes it works but sometimes....:S LOL! practise makes perfect
i guess![:)]

seldomseen · Post by **seldomseen** » Fri Apr 30, 2004 5:07 pm

I've been fortunate. From
playing harmonica semiprofessionally for nearly 20 years (all genres, especially
jazz & blues), I've come to rely on my ear. Here's the hitch, though ... I've
been a little slow to improve my sight-reading (which I'm rather halting and
sloppy at it). I think unconsciously I've been resistant to the idea of
sight-reading because I'm afraid it may take the "edge" off using my ear. Does
this make any sense? Yeah, most of my practice on flute (which I'm new at)
consists of jamming to a CD same as I would a harmonica, or picking up a head
arrangement that pops into my head, free-associating with that, and letting the
whole thing run. Great practice for improvisation (I'd recommend it
wholeheartedly), but admittedly it doesn't make for much of a disciplined flute
player.