sharps

Ear Training 101

The ear can be thought of as a muscle and, to a certain degree, it must be trained like one. Unfortunately, far too many instructors leave ear training skills locked up in a classroom book. The ear must be a central part of every music class whether it is a Concert Band, Orchestra, Music Theory, History, or Appreciation class. In performance situations, ear training will lead to better intonation, ensemble playing, and overall musicianship. With that in mind, here are three great ways to dramatically improve your students' ears and, hopefully, their overall playing.

Prior to tackling these three exercises, students must be familiar with the underlying scales and moveable "Do" solfege. If students are not familiar with moveable "Do" solfege, or cannot play these scales on their instruments, you have your work cut out for you! If your students are already way past that point, read on. These exercises can be modified for even the most advanced students and will serve them well for years to come.