Ear Training

Music training methods used to improve the aural recognition of INTERVALS and RHYTHMS. Students who happily possess the gift of PERFECT PITCH have a tremendous advantage over others not so favored by nature. Anyone who has this natural capability can easily recognize notes, intervals, and chords and trace melodies, while others must learn this process more slowly.

The French composer MAURICE RAVEL would have probably failed a test of memory or even pitch recognition. The famous conductor ARTURO TOSCANINI sang embarrassingly off pitch when leading the orchestra. The Russian composer IGOR STRAVINSKY had an unusually poor memory even in reconstructing his own works. His ear training by any educational standards was surprisingly deficient.

Memory is another important branch of ear training, and here again, individual gifts may differ greatly. An otherwise unmusical child may possess a natural ability to remember popular tunes she hears in the street, while a virtuoso violinist or pianist may lack this ability. The ability to carry a tune is also subject to individual evaluation. Some children can pick up tunes and sing or whistle them with extraordinary accuracy, while experienced musicians may be unable to carry a tune.