Advanced Piano
Lessons concepts: Ear Training
 |
With the goal in mind of giving
you simple, "real world" hints that you can use, this week's ear training
hint is one that you can understand in 5 minutes, and then develop for
the rest of your life! |
To "train" your ear means to develop
the ability to take what you hear (either a musical idea in your head,
or something that you've listened to) and express it musically.
Here's one of the greatest ways
to develop this ability on the piano and keyboard:
-
Start with a very simple melody
that you know well (Start VERY SIMPLE - "Mary had a little lamb,
etc.")
-
Start from any white note on the piano and pick out
the melody (don't worry about which fingers to use at this point.)
-
Once you can pick out the melody well (Here's the clincher!)
do it again, this time starting from a different white note on the piano.
Sounds easy? OK - do this until you can pick out
the melody well from any white note on the piano, then start from a black
note. Once you can play this simple melody starting from ANY NOTE on the
piano, pick a more involved melody.
Eventually, work your way up to something that has
big leaps in the melody, something like the US national anthem. Yikes!
This is a very advanced melody with BIG leaps. Once you can pick out this
melody from any note on the piano, you will be able to play almost any
melody that you hear, either on the radio, or melodies that you compose
in your head... (where else would you compose them - in your liver?)
Here's the secret that you'll begin to see:
Melodies are composed of specific intervals.
Although
these intervals may look like they are different distances when you start
playing the melody from a different note, they are exactly the same
distance apart, no matter which key you start from.
"Whoa, that's heavy. I need more info..."
Have you ordered our double CD set that explains
all this and more? You'll be light years ahead musically if you do! In
fact, if you understand the first 15 minutes of the course, you'll understand
the basic ground rules of music theory that everything builds on!
Click HERE for an introduction
to the course.
A note on fingering...
Once you start playing more advanced melodies, you
need to start observing the basic rules of fingering:
-
Avoid using your thumb on black notes if you can. Sometimes,
it's unavoidable, but this is generally a very effective rule. Mr. Thumb
is an ox and should not be asked to dance ballet.
-
Here's a basic one: don't play two consecutive notes
with the same finger. You've got five! Use 'em.
-
Regarding the right hand: If you need to play a note
that lies below your thumb, cross over with your 2nd, 3rd or 4th finger.
Never
cross over with your pinky. Mr. pinky is mentally challanged.
-
Again regarding your right hand: If you need to play
a group of notes that lies above your pinky, cross under with your
thumb. Sometimes you can accomplish this without picking up your hand (short
leaps), but you may have to simply pick up your hand and move it if
the leap is larger.
-
(Rules for the left hand are exactly opposite to the
right)
The best way to learn fingering? Learn your scales and
arpeggios! Ouch! Your old grouchy piano teacher was right after all. Learn
your scales and arpeggios if you really want to excel. You can pick up
a scale/arpeggio book at a local music shop. Just ask the clerk - she'll
smile a mean sort of smile and take you right to the book. But you'll
love me for this advice...
Click
HERE to return to the INDEX page