Why Is Ear Training So Hard?

Use Your Ear

21 May 202114:18

Summary

TLDRIn this video, the presenter addresses the difficulty of ear training, highlighting two main challenges: practicing exercises that are too advanced for one's skill level and following ineffective training methods. The interval method is criticized for its atonal approach, which doesn't align with how our musical perception naturally develops. The presenter emphasizes the importance of starting with simple tonal exercises to build a musical vocabulary, allowing for intuitive recognition of music. They also suggest measuring practice effectiveness through noticeable improvements and real-world music application.

Takeaways

🎓 The video discusses the difficulty of ear training and offers insights into why it can be challenging.
🚫 One reason ear training is hard is due to practicing exercises that are too difficult for one's current skill level.
👣 It's important to develop basic skills before moving on to more complex ones, akin to learning to walk before running.
🔍 The interval method is criticized for not having a gradual step-by-step approach, which can hinder progress.
🎵 Intervals are atonal exercises that don't account for the tonal context, making them an advanced skill to master.
🧠 Our perception of musical pitch is context-dependent, so starting with tonal context is crucial for effective ear training.
📈 To improve, one must internalize the sound of notes in a tonal context before tackling more complex harmonic contexts.
💡 Overloading short-term musical memory by trying to memorize too many notes at once can lead to inaccuracies in recognition.
🔄 Another reason training is hard is following an approach that doesn't align with how our musical pitch perception develops.
🔄 The interval method and trial-and-error approaches don't foster a tonal vocabulary, which is necessary for intuitive music recognition.
📊 Effective practice should yield noticeable results within weeks or bi-weekly, indicating whether the training method is suitable.
🌟 Developing a tonal vocabulary is essential for an intuitive connection with music, allowing for effortless recognition of melodies and chords.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video?
-The main focus of the video is to answer why ear training can be so hard and to provide guidance on effective training methods.
What are the two main reasons mentioned for the difficulty in ear training?
-The two main reasons are practicing exercises that are too difficult for one's current skill level and following an approach that doesn't match how our perception of musical pitch works and develops.
Why can practicing exercises that are too difficult be a problem in ear training?
-Practicing exercises that are too difficult can be a problem because it's akin to trying to run before learning to walk well, which can hinder the development of basic skills necessary for more complex ones.
What is the issue with the interval method as discussed in the video?
-The interval method is problematic because it lacks a gradual step-by-step approach and focuses on atonal exercises, which doesn't align with the natural development of musical pitch perception.
How does the interval method differ from a tonal approach in ear training?
-The interval method focuses on learning the distance between two notes without considering their tonal context, whereas a tonal approach emphasizes understanding notes within a harmonic context.
Why is it important to start with a basic tonal context in ear training?
-Starting with a basic tonal context is important because it helps in internalizing the sound of notes within a key, which is essential for recognizing more complex harmonic contexts later on.
What is the trial and error approach in ear training and why is it ineffective?
-The trial and error approach involves searching for notes or chords on an instrument until they match the ones in a song, which doesn't develop a tonal vocabulary or an intuitive connection with music, thus remaining ineffective for advanced ear training.
How can one determine if their ear training practice is ineffective?
-One can determine if their practice is ineffective by not seeing noticeable results within a month or two, or if what they learn doesn't apply well to real music scenarios.
What should be the goal of effective ear training practice?
-The goal of effective ear training practice should be to develop a tonal vocabulary that allows for an intuitive connection with music, enabling recognition of melodies and chords without excessive rational effort.
Why is it important to be patient when developing musical hearing skills?
-Developing musical hearing skills requires patience because it involves a complex system of interrelated skills, similar to learning a language, which takes time and gradual progress from the basics.

Outlines

00:00

🎼 Understanding the Challenges of Ear Training

The speaker begins by addressing the difficulty of ear training, suggesting that it's crucial to practice exercises appropriate to one's skill level. They emphasize the importance of a step-by-step approach, starting with basic skills before moving to more complex ones. The speaker criticizes the interval method for its lack of a gradual progression and its focus on atonal exercises, which can be too advanced for beginners. They argue that ear training should start with tonal exercises to build a basic musical vocabulary, which is essential for recognizing more complex harmonic contexts. The speaker also points out that not considering one's musical memory capacity can lead to ineffective practice, as trying to memorize too many notes at once can overload one's memory.

05:02

🎵 Overcoming the Pitfalls of Ineffective Training Methods

The second paragraph delves into the second main reason why ear training can be hard: following an approach that doesn't align with how musical pitch perception develops. The speaker reiterates the ineffectiveness of the interval method due to its atonal focus, which contradicts the context-dependent nature of musical pitch perception. They also discuss the trial and error approach, where musicians rely on instruments to find matching notes or chords, which fails to develop a deeper tonal vocabulary. The speaker stresses the importance of developing an intuitive connection with music through a tonal approach to ear training, which allows for effortless recognition of melodies and chords. They suggest that without such a vocabulary, musicians will always rely on rational thinking, which is less efficient.

10:04

🚀 Accelerating Musical Progress with Effective Practice

In the final paragraph, the speaker discusses how to ensure effective practice by setting achievable goals and measuring progress. They suggest that noticeable improvements should be seen weekly or bi-weekly, and if not, it's likely that the practice method is ineffective. The speaker recommends testing one's ability to recognize melodies by ear after practicing intervals to gauge the effectiveness of the training. They also emphasize the complexity of developing musical hearing skills, likening it to learning a language, and advise patience and a gradual approach starting from the basics. The speaker concludes by encouraging viewers to subscribe, ask questions, and check out their website and courses for further assistance.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Ear training

Ear training refers to the practice of developing one's ability to recognize and understand musical elements such as pitch, melody, harmony, and rhythm by ear. In the video, the speaker discusses the challenges associated with ear training, emphasizing the importance of starting with exercises that match one's current skill level. The video suggests that ear training is complex and requires a gradual approach, much like learning to walk before running.

💡Interval method

The interval method is a technique used in ear training where students focus on recognizing the distance between two notes without considering the tonal context. The video argues that this method is ineffective because it does not align with how our perception of musical pitch naturally develops. The speaker suggests that intervals are atonal exercises and learning them in isolation can hinder the development of a tonal vocabulary necessary for intuitive music recognition.

💡Tonal context

Tonal context refers to the framework within which musical notes and chords exist, such as a major or minor key. The video emphasizes the importance of understanding tonal context for effective ear training. It is argued that learning to recognize intervals in isolation, without considering their function within a key, can lead to an incomplete understanding of music. The speaker advocates for starting with simple harmonic contexts to build a basic musical vocabulary.

💡Musical memory

Musical memory is the ability to recall and retain musical information such as melodies and chords. In the video, the speaker warns against overloading one's musical memory by trying to memorize too many notes at once, which can lead to distortion and incorrect recognition of pitches. This concept is crucial for understanding the limits of one's current skills and the importance of practicing within those limits.

💡Relative pitch

Relative pitch is the ability to identify or recreate a musical note in relation to another note when the pitch of the first note is known. The video discusses how the interval method does not effectively develop relative pitch skills because it focuses on atonal exercises. The speaker suggests that a more effective approach involves developing a tonal vocabulary that allows for intuitive recognition of musical elements.

💡Atonal perception

Atonal perception refers to the ability to recognize musical intervals without considering their harmonic function within a key or tonal context. The video criticizes this approach, arguing that it is an advanced skill and should not be the starting point for ear training. The speaker explains that developing an atonal perception before having a strong sense of tonality can hinder the development of a comprehensive musical vocabulary.

💡Musical vocabulary

Musical vocabulary, as discussed in the video, refers to the internalized knowledge of musical elements such as notes, chords, and their relationships within a tonal context. The speaker argues that developing a rich musical vocabulary is essential for intuitively recognizing and understanding music. This vocabulary allows musicians to quickly and accurately identify musical elements without relying on rational thought or trial and error.

💡Trial and error approach

The trial and error approach in music involves searching for the correct notes or chords on an instrument until a match is found with the music being learned. The video criticizes this method for not developing a deeper understanding of music beyond basic pitch matching. The speaker suggests that this approach does not contribute to the development of a tonal vocabulary or an intuitive connection with music.

💡Intuitive connection

An intuitive connection with music refers to the ability to recognize and understand musical elements without conscious effort or rational thinking. The video emphasizes the importance of developing such a connection for effective ear training. The speaker suggests that by building a tonal vocabulary, musicians can develop an intuitive sense of how notes and chords fit within a musical context, allowing for faster and more accurate recognition of music.

💡Ineffective practice

Ineffective practice in the context of the video refers to ear training methods that do not lead to noticeable improvements in musical recognition skills over time. The speaker advises that if one is not seeing results within a month or two, it is likely that the practice method is ineffective. The video suggests that effective practice should yield progress on a weekly or bi-weekly basis and should be applicable to real music scenarios.

💡Gradual approach

A gradual approach to learning, as mentioned in the video, involves starting with basic skills and gradually progressing to more complex ones. The speaker advocates for this method in ear training, suggesting that it is essential to develop foundational skills like recognizing simple harmonic contexts before attempting more advanced exercises. The video implies that a gradual approach is more in line with how our musical perception naturally develops.

Highlights

Ear training difficulty can stem from practicing exercises that are too difficult for one's current skill level.

It's crucial to develop basic skills before moving on to more complex ones, similar to learning to walk before running.

The interval method often leads to difficulties as it lacks a gradual step-by-step approach.

Intervals are atonal exercises that don't consider the tonality or harmonic context of musical pieces.

Our perception of musical pitch is context-dependent, making the atonal approach of the interval method ineffective.

Starting with simple harmonic contexts is essential for developing a basic musical vocabulary.

Practicing without considering one's short-term musical memory capacity can lead to ineffective training.

Overloading musical memory with too many notes at once can distort pitch recognition.

The second main reason for ear training difficulty is following an approach that doesn't match how our perception of musical pitch works.

The interval method's atonal approach doesn't follow the natural development of relative pitch skills.

The trial and error approach, which involves searching for notes on an instrument, doesn't develop beyond basic pitch matching skills.

Both the interval method and trial and error approach fail to develop a tonal vocabulary necessary for intuitive music recognition.

Great musicians recognize music intuitively by the sensations of musical elements within the key or harmonic context.

To develop intuitive music recognition, one must start ear training with a tonal approach rather than atonal exercises.

Effective practice should show noticeable results within a week or two; lack of improvement may indicate ineffective practice.

Measuring the applicability of learned skills in real music is a good way to determine the effectiveness of one's practice.

Developing musical hearing skills is a complex process akin to learning a language, requiring patience and gradual progression from basics.