Aural Skills/Ear Training

[Mitch]

The problem with ear training begins with the name, "ear training." It should be called "brain training," because the highest levels of achievement in pitch identification, harmonic perception, etc., happen with synethesia, which is using multiple senses at one time for one purpose, which would allow, for example, the perfect dictation of a 16-bar, four-part Bach chorale in one hearing, by someone who does not have perfect pitch, or being able to hear, on first sight, an entire orchestral score.

If you go to school in Michigan, it's MORE than worth the drive to see a teacher in Ann Arbor. PM me for more details.

Mitch

[Chuck(G)]

Do you solfege? That helped cement the interval relationships for me.

[Kevin Miller]

Why don't you add a "real world" application to your studies? If your school has a choir that welcomes non-majors/general student population.....JOIN IT or join a local church choir! Just as individual practice on your horn is great for attaining and maintaining skills; it is only part of an education that needs to include ensemble techniques and experience. Join a choir and meet some cute girls. It's a win win situation!

[TubaRay]

Why don't you add a "real world" application to your studies? Join a choir and meet some cute girls. It's a win win situation!

Now, why didn't I think of that when I was an undergraduate? It should have been a no-brainer.

[Gorilla Tuba]

I second the advise to sing in choir. Also, try "solfeging" simple tunes by ear. Mary had a little lamb, etc. I made my greatest leap in solfege proficiency last year when rocking my new baby to sleep. I'd get bored singing the same old songs so I started doing by scale degrees (solfege with numbers). I started with scales and quickly progressed to tunes. It has really helped in a lot of practical ways.