Ear Training 101

Description

Course Description:

This course is designed to help you develop your all-important aural skills. After all, research shows that our musicianship will never exceed our mind’s ability to interpret and think music, no matter how well you read music. Our aural skills DO improve with practice and instruction. We will learn to identify the contours of melody lines, differentiate between higher & lower pitches, identify specific melodic and harmonic intervals, produce these intervals at will with our voice, and begin the process of identifying multiple successive intervals– the first steps to playing a melody by ear! This is NOT a “have or have not” skill. Think of our ears as muscles that need flexing! Most of all, this course will demystify playing by ear for you and Mark will make learning it fun! Non-refundable tuition for the 5 hour-and-15-minute sessions: $125.

Need to miss one? Not a problem– Mark will record them for you!

Goals:

As we meet weekly, we will review past concepts and skills, and build on them into the next area. There will be time for interactive questions and answers, as well as discussions and hands-on learning– all from the comfort of your home. Mark will provide handouts and other supplemental materials as needed. Assignments are optional but are a valuable tool to learn the material and practice new concepts. Our goal is learning for mastery. Whatever material isn’t completed in this unit will continue into Ear Training 102.

Attendance:

This is a 5-week class that meets weekly for 75 minutes. Your tuition holds your space for all 5 sessions. Mark will record each class and share them with registered students if you need to miss one. Tuition is non-refundable.

Course Materials:

• Mark will provide numerous handouts and additional materials included in your tuition.
• We will be using Zoom. You will need to download the latest version of the Zoom software or app if you are using a tablet or iPad. If you are on a laptop or desktop, you can use Zoom without the app on your browser. Mark can help you if you are unfamiliar with this.
  • You will then need to be able to see and hear Mark on your device with a good internet connection.
  • A webcam, or using your tablet, laptop, smartphone, etc. is all that is needed.
  • Headphones recommended, but not required.

Course Schedule

Week	Date	Concepts	Intervals	Triads
1	Sept. 12	Active listening, Following melodic contours, Pitch direction, Associated Repertoire for Interval ID, Ascending and Descending intervals, Triad ID, solfege review	m2, M2, P4	Major
2	Sept. 19	Melodic & Harmonic intervals, Associated Rep. review, new intervals, triad work, solfege scales	m2, M2, P4. NEW m3, M3, P5	Major minor
3	Sept. 26	Melodic & Harmonic intervals, Associated Rep. review, new intervals, triad work, begin multi-interval melodic training.	m2, M2, m3, M3, P4, P5, m6, M6	Major minor Dim.
4	Oct. 3	Melodic & Harmonic intervals, Associated Rep. review, new intervals, triad work, 4 successive melodic intervals, hearing last note of phrases.	m2, M2, m3, M3, P4, P5, m6, M6	Major minor Dim. Aug.
5	Oct. 10	Melodic & Harmonic intervals, Associated Rep. review, new intervals, triad work, 1 measure melodic dictation	m2, M2, m3, M3, P4, P5, m6, M6, m7, M7	Major minor Dim. Aug.
Don’t worry if you don’t know what these terms mean. You will soon!

Optional Materials

• www.musictheory.net
• Have your handouts and a notebook for note taking and organizing handouts.
• You may want to have your instrument nearby to help you visualize at times.