Play Piano by Ear -- Tips for Success
Many people decide to learn to play piano by ear. This term refers to the ability to listen to a piece of music, then play it. It also could mean that you are composing music as you're playing it, rather than writing it out first. There are many famous musicians who can play by ear and even prefer to do so. Even legendary pianist and vocalist Tori Amos has publicly admitted that reading music is not her strong suit and she prefers playing by ear. So, where do you start if you want to learn this skill?
The first thing you need to do is determine your skill level. Playing by ear will of course be easier for someone who already knows how to read music and play piano. However, it is possible for someone new to piano to learn how to play by ear with the right instruction. Finding that instruction, however, might be a bit challenging. Many piano teachers do not teach this skill and require their students learn to read sheet music instead. So, what do you do if you want to learn but can't find anyone to teach you?
Teaching yourself is certainly an option. One way is to make a recording of yourself playing different chords and notes, then memorize them. Or, you could purchase an instructional product to help you. There are lots of them out there, from many different companies. You'll find an incredible amount of online classes that claim to be able to teach you how to play by ear. There are also tons of DVDs, audio CDs, videos and books that are also designed to teach this skill. The method you choose should depend on what you feel most comfortable with. You could even try a combination of different teaching methods.
The most important thing for anyone wanting to learn how to play piano by ear is consistent practice. Like any skill, piano gets easier the more you work at it. If you can, set aside some uninterrupted time every day for practice. Many people choose to tape record their practice sessions so they can analyze and monitor their progress. After consistently practicing and challenging yourself, you'll discover that playing by ear gets a little easier every day!
Copyright 2006 Frances Coleman - All Rights Reserved
How to play piano: The basics, Lesson #1
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