How do you go about ear training with your students ?

[m1469]

I have recently become aware of a need for me to grasp the concept of ear-training in general a little more.  But along with that, I realize the importance of helping a musician develop very accute listening and hearing abilities.  I want to better help my students in this area.

So, I am wondering what do you do ? Do you address ear training specifically and separately ?


Thanks,
m1469

[lostinidlewonder]

I incorporate ear training with general study of music. When a student does something inaccurate at the piano I will ask them to do it again after listening to how it should be played. I will not say in words what I am doing, simply play and let them listen. More often than not they will realise what needs to be done, otherwise simply hint them towards the answer. I only do particular ear training excersises which are tested in examinations with students who are sitting examinations (like humming back a phrase, or clapping a rhythm, or singing the lowest, highest or middle note of a chord etc), otherwise I will never simply pull ear training aside alone and study that.

I find it is a big challenge to get a student to listen to themselves as they play. Some can get it, some simply cannot. For those that cannot I will record them and play back their playing so they can forget for a moment about pressing notes down and listen to the result of their work. Often many of them cringe at listening to their own playing. I will also record myself and then ask them to determine which recording is mine and which is theirs and why can they tell the difference. I always encourage students to record themselves when they practice at the piano. Unfortunately not all of them have access to recording tools.

I find also the more a student actually listens to piano music the more accurate they can actually listen to themselves. You might be surprised how many students who study piano NEVER actually listen to piano music!! I always encourage listening to piano music and reading sheets at the same time, this is essential training imo.

[Bob]

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[penguinlover]

I usually incorporate ear training within the lesson, is small doses.  But one of my students is looking at a career in music, and it very talented.  I have been using a computer program used in my kids' college music theory class, MacGamut.  I let him work at this for about ten minutes a lesson.  It has really helped him, and it holds his interest.

[tiasjoy]

We always do some kind of warm up, and one of the things I do is play a simple phrase (improvised) and they have to play it back.  Depending on their level, they can either look at the keys, or have to close their eyes. 

Another thing I do is get them to close their eyes so they have to use their ear and we 'improvise' a duet.

I've also videod them playing  - yep, lots of cringing as someone said, and they're usually surprised they don't sound better! (high expectations).

I also do some of the more boring exercises for exam preparation - cadence identification etc.

As someone said, I don't focus on it in large doses, but I do think it's fundamental to developing expressive playing.

[pianistimo]

that's great stuff, mayla. 

and i like lostinidlewonder's asking his students to repeat and listen.  some of my teachers have done that with me when i accidentally played the wrong note (usually an accidental that should have been carried over within a measure or note off an extra leger line or space that was misdiagnosed). 

what i don't understand is how a teacher can sit across the room and say 'you missed that A.'  how did he know it was an A?  frankly, i was mystified.  at that point i wanted to know only that answer.  but, of course, i couldn't stop time (as though it were dependent upon that A).  but, the A in effect stopped time for me.  after that - i could not fully focus on anything but 'how did he know that was an A?'  i wanted to eat dirt.  why can i not tell an A that is an octave and a half above C?  why am i the one that hears up to a full whole note of guesswork.  is it an A# or is it a Ab.  especially if you are playing a modern work and they are sharped and flatted.  how can one know - unless one memorized the entire blazing work note by note - if that was an A.  i want to know the answer to this RIGHT NOW.  (maybe he heard the work enough times - and enough students made the same mistake?  although i tend to think he's genius and has perfect pitch along with everything else).

ps i feel i am very good when it comes to comparing pitches.  for instance if a piano is out of tune.  comparing the notes to one another - i can immediately hear discrepancies. 

for hearing pitches - i usually work intervals first with younger students.  seconds= happy birthday  thirds= michael row   fourths = here comes the bride fifths = twinkle twinkle   and so forth.

[juliax]

I really don't want to give away my method, since I teach children how to read notes, play by ear, and recognize pitch from age 3.  But here's a hint... we sing!