Ear Training and Imitation

Music is primarily a matter of hearing; why not use the ear in piano playing? Some teachers believe that playing "by ear" leads to carelessness and indfference to the exactness of the keyboard sheet music. When you think about it, though, much early musical experience happens naturally through imitation. The imitative faculty is one of the child's strongest means of development, one of his most effective ways of learning. Why not let the young student study to utilize this powerful process in ways that are most effective?

The only potential problem with imitation is failing to develop the child's powers of initiative and independent effort. But this failure is not due either to the use of or neglect of the child's natural tendency for imitation. It really means that the piano teacher is not terribly inventive herself to take advantage of this great natural gift and use it to further growth. It is the teacher's, not the child's, limitation.

Here are some steps that could help piano students grow in mastering music notation by learning to play by ear and imitation:

1. The student learns to sing a song
2. By imitation, combined with the use of his own "ear," the student learns to express the melody on the piano as well as vocally. Note that this process makes the piano an instrument of self-expression from the very beginning, and not just a medium of impressions.
3. The student is shown the notation of the song, printed both as a song and also as a piano "variation," with the phrases in various octaves on both the treble and bass staves. He plays the familiar material in the various ways.
4. Marginal material summarizes the essential tonal content of the song. The student uses this marginal material for sight reading and technical drill.

After repeated experiences the student acquires two powers: a) to progress through each of the above processes more rapidly and accurately; b) to discover similar tonal progressions in new material and to learn the new music without assistance.

For more information about piano lessons NJ, contact Barbara Ehrlich Piano Studio.