practical ear training for pianists

[just_me]

Hi. I have an intermediate grasp of ear training. I took a serious amount out of my life to learn perfect pitch and now I can recognize individual tones (and their unique qualities). However, as far as piano goes, being able to recognize the actual notes...doesn't help in the way I thought it would.  I had this romantic notion that I would be able to hear every single tone in a quickly played glissando...and then just hear something and <magic>, I'd know what to play! However, it seems more important to be able to recognize scale degree in being able to piece together how a melody or musical element "works"...So, I want to progress with my ear training (eventually I'd like to compose, but just as an amateur, for myself, to make cool arrangements and such).
Therefore, my question is, how should I approach ear training at the piano? Should I learn the chord progressions in my assigned piano pieces? Should I approach it seperately (and commit to ear, say the progressions in the back of my college music theory text)?  Of course, I can pick out basic cadences...but what should I commit to my aural memory afterwards? Common chord progressions? How can I focus & train my ears to support my assigned repertoire?
   Your replies are greatly appreciated.

[rc]

I think movable solfege is a good way to internalize the relation of pitches to the tonal centre, which might be a lot easier to learn if you've already got perfect pitch!

Being aware of the harmony underlying the pieces you learn is always a good idea.  Good for memory, good for interpretation, and probably good for the ear (if it's done anything for my ear, it hasn't been a conscious effort).  This alone should do well in familiarizing yourself with common harmonic progressions, by definition you'll encounter them over and over.

It's a good question and reminds me that I ought to be more deliberately aware of the harmonic motion in the pieces I learn!  I wonder what other responses will be to this question?

[Bob]

There are lot of ear training books out.  Just find a college style book and work from that -- sight-singing and dictation.

How did you go about learning perfect pitch?

[just_me]

I'm embarassed to admit it, but although it is corny, the David Lucas Burge package worked...so, if you want to learn perfect pitch, it is worthwhile. It takes quite a bit of time, but I felt it was something I feel was worth it.

[timothy42b]

Here's a different angle on what I think is practical.

I've changed my mind on it this week.  and may again next week, who knows?

At any rate, hearing a note before I play it is extremely important on trombone and voice.  If I do not do that, I will not produce the best tone and intonation, I may not get a note at all.

On piano it doesn't matter.  Press the right key, get the right note.  So I've been a little dubious about ear training.

But I just read Gieseking's book, and he says the single most important thing he teaches people to do is listen.  According to him people who can only hear a wrong note have barely started.  It is necessary to listen so critically you can hear small changes in tone, in length of notes, in precision of chords, etc. 

From this standpoint maybe active intense listening starts to make more sense. 

[Bob]

I'm embarassed to admit it, but although it is corny, the David Lucas Burge package worked...so, if you want to learn perfect pitch, it is worthwhile. It takes quite a bit of time, but I felt it was something I feel was worth it.

How long did it take?

[just_me]

On and off, maybe 8 months -1 year, but that's putting about an hour in/day.

[Bob]

Interesting.  If you make a post about it, I would be interested in reading it, about how different pitches sound to you.

I found this thread of yours.
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=31193.msg361572#msg361572


So you developed perfect pitch during the last year?  How old are you?  About 18-22? 

[momopi]

How about me? I'm tone-deaf (or something like that.)

Is there hope for me? 

[28lorelei]

Wait, so you learned perfect pitch? I'm really curious: how did you hear music before you got this ability compared to how you hear it now?