Learning Piano by Ear – Good or Bad Idea?
Free Online Articles Directory
Why Submit Articles?
Top Authors
Top Articles
FAQ
ABAnswers
0 && $.browser.msie ) {
var ie_version = parseInt($.browser.version);
if(ie_version Login
Register
Hello
My Home
Sign Out
Email
Password
Remember me?
Lost Password?
Home Page > Education > Learning Piano by Ear – Good or Bad Idea?
Learning Piano by Ear – Good or Bad Idea?
Posted: Apr 15, 2007 |Comments: 0
|
]]>
There are many websites which claim to teach you to play piano by ear. But, the real question is; does it work? Can you truly learn to play the piano strictly by ear? While I believe it is possible, I believe that this method has its limitations.
First of all, learning to play by ear generally means that you need to be able to hear pitch and gage the quality of chords with your ear. In other words you would need to be able to distinguish the difference between major and minor chords, dominant and diminished etc. The only problem is most people do not possess an ear capable of such distinctions.
I’ve been playing the piano for 36 years and I often cannot tell the difference between chords. How is someone with no experience supposed to do this? Does this mean that my ear isn’t any good? Quite the contrary, I have very good relative pitch and can often hear entire chord progressions but often miss the nuances of each specific chord. Therefore an approach which is solely geared to hearing the changes has its limitations.
The other problem with learning by ear is that you cannot gain a complete understanding of music just by listening. You see, music is like math. It has formative structure derived from centuries of musicians and teachers who have dedicated their lives to the understanding a betterment of each specific musical genre. To discount this process and work around it using just your ear is counter productive.
For example; let’s say you’re going to learn to play the blues. If you learn by ear that would mean you would have to hear not only the dominant seventh chords, then the melody which is derived from the blues scale, the rhythm which comes from structured meter and the re-harmonization of the chord structure all without understanding the words I just said. It would mean you would have to hear all of this without knowing what its called, how it works and how it all comes together. You would learn by watching someone else play the piano, copy it and repeat it until it sounds the same as what you just hear.
Not only is this a completely inefficient way of learning it is highly limited because you cannot gain an understanding of what it is you’re actually doing. Only until you are able to comprehend and dissect each specific aspect of the music can you fully appreciate and learn from it.
I believe that it’s highly productive to learn how music is formulated rather than just hearing it and trying to repeat it. Why? Because that way you can stretch the boundaries of learning and be able to move your playing to another level. Even if you were able to copy certain aspects of learning to play by ear that would severely limit you from moving beyond that point because you simply cannot understand what it is you’re doing.
It would be like trying to build a house with no foundation. Eventually if you wanted to add an extra floor of musical knowledge your paper thin layer of foundation and understanding couldn’t possibly support it.
So, what’s a better way to learn? Choose a teacher or online piano lessons that can help you build a strong foundation. In other words, pick a course that helps you with the basic understanding of how music works. Then you can use your ear to strengthen your understanding because the ear can converse with the mind and come to a consensus of how and why things sound the way they do.
Where do you start? Start with how chords and scales are made and use that information to formulate melody and structure. Your ear can support this process obviously but it’s the scales and chords that create the building blocks of true musical understanding.
It’s not enough to know how to play a simple F, G, C progression with melody. You need to know why and how this progression works and why it sounds the way it does. Then and only then can you begin to build on that foundation by learning richer chords, re-harmonization and more complicated melodies.
For example; F, G, C can sound so much better if you play it as Fmaj7, D-7, G7, Db7, Cmaj7. This is the same chord progression but re-harmonized to sound richer and more pleasing to the ear. How can you possibly do this if you use only your ear? For the vast majority of people who want to learn to play the piano it’s impossible. So, next time you’re thinking of learning just by ear, you might want to reconsider that plan. Why limit yourself?
Retrieved from “http://www.articlesbase.com/education-articles/learning-piano-by-ear-good-or-bad-idea-131765.html”
(ArticlesBase SC #131765)
Start increasing your traffic today just by submitting articles with us, click here to get started.
Liked this article? Click here to publish it on your website or blog, it’s free and easy!
Paul Tobey -
About the Author:
Online piano lessons are becoming very popular and Paul Tobey, a professional concert pianist, offer a free piano lesson to and student wishing to participate. One piano lesson is all it takes to decide if he is the right teacher for you.
]]>
Questions and Answers
Ask our experts your Education related questions here…
200 Characters left
I have a lot of deep issuses and I just broke up with this amazing loving guy, the one who stole my heart and the one I let go.I broke up with him cause I’m not good enough for him.Was it a bad idea?
I train with 20 kg kettlebell. I do ETK and my idea is to continue with kettlebell muscle and then kettlebell burn.would be very bad idea to halve kettltbell burn phases. Thanks
I’ll be 60 in January, and I’m planning to go back into music full time after 20 years, only this time it’s playing Gospel music – not secular music. Is this a bad Idea for me to undertake
Rate this Article
vote(s)
0 vote(s)
Feedback
RSS
Print
Email
Re-Publish
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/education-articles/learning-piano-by-ear-good-or-bad-idea-131765.html
Article Tags:
piano lesson, piano lessons, online piano lessons, free piano lesson, learn piano online, piano music, music lessons, learn music, pianist, piano
Latest Education Articles
More from Paul Tobey
Gospel Keys 202: Learn Worship Music on the Piano by ear
Learn over 60 new voicings, chords, progressions, and fancy arrangements to playing worship music!
From fancy inversions of the ninth chord to the secret “Quartal” chord (which sounds very very smooth), you’ll learn how to replace all of your basic triads and 3-fingered chords with full-sounding 9ths, 11ths, 13ths, and altered chords! Believe me when I say: “Others will notice!” (02:40)
Gospel Keys Urban Clip-Learn chords that will turn heads
Jonathan Powell from hearandplay.com teaches how to think outside the box, using fat passing chords. These two hand chords voicings are hidden secrets that many musicians don’t share. Enjoy! (02:27)
Introduction To Ear Training – Piano Lessons
http://www.PianoLessons.com
.
Sign up for the secret-lessons at: http://www.PianoLessons.com
.
Learn how to use your ears as you learn how to play the piano. Learn how to play the piano by ear. These ear training exercises will help you as you learn how to play piano! (01:37)
Piano Solo by Nate Bosch – Piano Lessons
http://www.PianoLessons.com
.
Sign up for the secret-lessons at: http://www.PianoLessons.com
.
Watch as Nate Bosch of PianoLessons.com performs a piano solo for your enjoyment. Soloing and improvising on the piano is a great skill to have. Work on your ear training if you would like to learn more about soloing and improvising on the piano! (03:14)
Gospel Keys 500: Learn to Play Shouting Music by Ear Part 2
Master shouting music by learning my never-before-seen techniques. I break shouting music into three key sections: “The Shouting Intro,” “The Main Loop Period” and “The Cool-down.” You’ll explore each part, step-by-step.
I guarantee that you won’t find shouting music taught in these 3 steps ANYWHERE ELSE!
WWW.GOSPELKEYS500.COM (01:31)
Finding the Right Piano Teacher
The right piano teacher is not always easy to find. You may have to travel or you can decide to study online with a professional musician who knows how to teach.
By:
Paul Tobeyl
Education>
Tutoringl
Jul 05, 2007
lViews: 317
Beginning Piano Lessons On The Internet: Useful, But Beware
When learning how to play piano, free opportunities present themselves all over the Internet. Most notably, many websites offer quick step-by-step lessons, as well as free online sheet music, which beginning pianists can use to learn how to play piano at no cost.
By:
Duane Shinnl
Arts & Entertainment>
Musicl
Jul 20, 2008
lViews: 180
Piano Lessons in London for Beginners
Piano lessons for beginners and even for others in London are very easily available. And there are many suitable substitutes as option for those who really want to learn it but somehow can’t manage.
By:
Joe Smithl
Arts & Entertainment>
Musicl
Nov 11, 2009
lViews: 112
Imagine being able to sit down at a piano and just PLAY – Pop, Blues, Jazz, Ragtime, Ballads, even incredible Classical pieces? Now you can.. and you can do it in months not years! Imagine you could learn piano or keyboard without having to spend money, time and effort on traditional Piano Lessons.
By:
muratl
Arts & Entertainment>
Musicl
Mar 02, 2011
Learn Jazz Piano – Where to Find Cheap yet Effective Lessons
Learn jazz piano without spending too much money on piano lessons. Believe it or not, you can actually learn how to play the piano even without undergoing formal schooling on this musical instrument. Many people may feel hesitant about learning piano all by themselves, but there have been many piano players who actually started out by learning the instrument on their own.
By:
Benoit Gilbertl
Arts & Entertainment>
Musicl
Nov 07, 2009
Why You should Start Your Piano with Your Favorite Song First, NOT With the Traditional Discouraging Piano Learning Method.
Are you in this situation? ” I wish I had learn to play the piano, but never did.” “I had piano lessons when I was a kid, like most people. And hated them, like most people. And quit, like most people.” Your First Song is Your Favorite Song is Perfectly Fine
I’ll show you how to jump start piano with the brand-new piano learning way.
By:
Waka Shinkol
Arts & Entertainment>
Musicl
Feb 18, 2011
Online Piano Lessons – Drawbacks
Undoubtedly online piano lessons have their own significant advantages over the offline counterparts. But as every coin has two sides, so does the online piano lessons. The online piano classes are less expensive and save time when compared to the offline piano lessons. There are flexible time schedules and ‘n’ number of repetitions can be made in the online piano lessons. If you are looking for piano classes for kids, then they would be more interested in the online piano lessons rather than th
By:
Johnl
Arts & Entertainment>
Musicl
Dec 31, 2008
lViews: 254
Achieve A Few Major Goals With A Professional Resume That Stands Out
Trying to get a
job can be a stressful time for anyone, but when you have a professional resume
that stands out, you will not be as stressed. There are a few major goals that
a resume which is professional can help you achieve.
By:
Jeff Schumanl
Educationl
Mar 06, 2011
Selecting Licensed Practical Nurse Vocational Schools
There are also many nursing schools across the globe that provides such many diverse courses. One such school is the Licensed Practical Nurse Vocational school.
By:
Daris Maslowl
Educationl
Mar 05, 2011
Western Influence on Japanese Culture
After realising that this crew were no threat even though they bore arms, the Japanese let them settle and establish trade links with the western world. Besides bringing cargo, the Portuguese alongside Francis Xavier, who arrived in 1549, introduced Christianity and this was tolerated primarily by the Shoguns as it reduced the religious power of the Buddhists who had prior to their arrival a significant influence on the Japanese people.
By:
Daris Maslowl
Educationl
Mar 05, 2011
Learning to Play Violin on Your Own – Three Things to Consider
Do you want to teach yourself the violin? If so, you need to take a good, hard look at yourself. If you ignore these points completely, you are bound to be in for an unhappy or nonexistent learning experience.
By:
JeroldSiemeringl
Educationl
Mar 05, 2011
Support the kids by using logoped
Custom can certainly supply numerous advice to that famous concern, “Why? ” This also can help a kid learn how to cope with dissatisfaction and damage.
By:
StefkaGeorgievichl
Educationl
Mar 05, 2011
Pell Grant Requirements – How to Meet The Pell Grant Eligibility Criteria
Qualifying for a Government Pell Grant can be tough, yet by becoming aware of the exemptions to your adjusted gross income your chances of obtaining approval can increase considerably. In this article we’ll talk about some approaches which can help put your FAFSA application on the fast track to approval.
By:
JosephLevil
Educationl
Mar 05, 2011
Why Is It Smart To Use A Resume Sample To Write Your Resume?
Do you want to use a resume sample to help you
write the best resume you can, but can’t decide if this is a good idea or not?
Then you have to be aware of the reasons why using a sample is always smart for
anyone.
By:
Jeff Schumanl
Educationl
Mar 05, 2011
Generating Your Intelligent Along with Right Selection
Expanding in a household using a mom as a trainer and a dad being an attorney can be an daunting factor. Mention a couple of vocations in which you’ve got used your path. Despite the fact that my mother and father were extrememly opened up oriented while i was growing up these were nonetheless get it done by the guide sort of people.
By:
DanJenkinsl
Educationl
Mar 05, 2011
3 Tips For Online Reputation Management
If you have a problem with your reputation online you may want to consider reading this article to learn 3 things that can help you.
By:
Paul Tobeyl
Business>
Online Businessl
Mar 22, 2010
Search Engine Optimization First Steps
If you want to get to the top of search engines you have to choose your keywords and do your keyword research first.
By:
Paul Tobeyl
Internet>
ECommercel
May 26, 2008
Tinnitus in the Morning – Better or Worse?
Do your ears ring more in the morning then at any other time of the day? Here’s an article about ringing in the ears and how you can stop your morning ringing.
By:
Paul Tobeyl
Healthl
May 04, 2008
lViews: 4,041
Danny Boy and Happy Birthday – 2 Great Songs, 2 Great Mysteries
If you search for Danny Boy and Happy Birthday on the internet it will yeild millions of results. These songs are some of the most sung in the entire world. Here’s a short history of each.
By:
Paul Tobeyl
Technology>
Communicationl
Feb 11, 2008
lViews: 880
How to Throw a Christmas Kareoke Party
Here’s a few tips on hosting your next Christmas Kareoke Party. People love to sing at Christmas time, here’s your chance to host a great event.
By:
Paul Tobeyl
Arts & Entertainment>
Artl
Oct 02, 2007
lViews: 479
Blues Piano Lessons – a Quick Tutorial
Piano blues can be learned quickly and easily if you know where to start. This simple piano lesson tutorial can help you with the basics.
By:
Paul Tobeyl
Educationl
Aug 19, 2007
lViews: 1,474
Finding the Right Piano Teacher
The right piano teacher is not always easy to find. You may have to travel or you can decide to study online with a professional musician who knows how to teach.
By:
Paul Tobeyl
Education>
Tutoringl
Jul 05, 2007
lViews: 317
Public Speaking Training Can Really Help your Business
Public speaking training involves finding a training company who knows how to enroll and engage an audience. Winging it is not an option. Get the right training and your company will grow fast.
By:
Paul Tobeyl
Technology>
Communicationl
Jun 07, 2007
lViews: 351
Add new Comment
Your Name: *
Your Email:
Comment Body: *
Verification code:*
* Required fields
Submit
Your Articles Here
It’s Free and easy
Sign Up Today
Author Navigation
My Home
Publish Article
View/Edit Articles
View/Edit Q&A
Edit your Account
Manage Authors
Statistics Page
Personal RSS Builder
My Home
Edit your Account
Update Profile
View/Edit Q&A
Publish Article
Author Box
Paul Tobey has 49 articles online
Articles Categories
All Categories
Advertising
Arts & Entertainment
Automotive
Beauty
Business
Careers
Computers
Education
Finance
Food and Beverage
Health
Hobbies
Home and Family
Home Improvement
Internet
Law
Marketing
News and Society
Relationships
Self Improvement
Shopping
Spirituality
Sports and Fitness
Technology
Travel
Writing
ADHD
Childhood Education
College and University
History
Homeschooling
International Studies
K-12 Education
Languages
Learning Disabilities
Online Education
Science
Tutoring
]]>
Need Help?
Contact Us
FAQ
Submit Articles
Editorial Guidelines
Blog
Site Links
Recent Articles
Top Authors
Top Articles
Find Articles
Site Map
Mobile Version
Webmasters
RSS Builder
RSS
Link to Us
Business Info
Advertising
Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the Terms Of Use and Privacy Policy | User published content is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Copyright © 2005-2011 Free Articles by ArticlesBase.com, All rights reserved.
Online piano lessons are becoming very popular and Paul Tobey, a professional concert pianist, offer a free piano lesson to and student wishing to participate. One piano lesson is all it takes to decide if he is the right teacher for you.
