Re: Pattern recog. & aural skills; specific study?

[amanfang]

I think that time spent on individual skills is not a bad idea.  If you can't do everything at once, trying to do it all anyway without spending time on specifics isn't just going to make it better.  Work on one thing at a time.  Make a goal of how much in a particular area you would like to get done, and work on that and then move onto something else.  Or maybe in a given week spend 20 minutes before you start practicing repertiore on sight singing, and then the next day spend the first 20 minutes on ear training, and then the next day do something different.  You could also try dictation of familiar melodies/harmonies.  

[MasterTuner]

I agree.  You should earnestly practice your aural skills.  I suggest doing exercises daily.  Better hearing =better musician= better performer.

[greyrune]

i agree completely and really want to improve my aural skills, what are some good exercises though.  I can tell maj, min, dim, aug chords decently and get intervals most of the time though i often get inversions mixed up, but how can you learn how write down a melody accurately, this is my goal.  Any exercises would be hugely appreciated.

[abell88]

For aural training, it really helps to have a partner. Play simple melodies for each other to play back. Also, play chord progressions (you can start with a hymn book and work up to Bach chorales)  -- the listener has to name the chords (Roman numerals) as they hear them (or on 2nd ... or 3rd... hearing!) Start simply and work up to harder stuff.

Sight-singing will also help you with melodic dictation...especially if you sing the solfege as you go, eventually you will be able to hear a melody and know you're hearing soh-mi-re-fa.  Also try playing a hymn and singing one of the harmony parts (again, work up to Bach chorales).

[tenn]

The Associated Board's Aural Training in practice book and CD is very helpful.
I also like to use Earope. You can use it for intervals, scales, chords, inversions, progressions, remembering random note sequences and rhythm.
A little bit every day is probably the best way.

[greyrune]

I got earope, thanks it seems to be quite good, hopefully this'll help.  I would love to get a partner and use that unfortunately none of my flatmates are inclined that way.  Also i would try sight singing but it's a bit embarassing, the walls in my flat are about as thick as paper (can be very awkward at times).  Thanks though, i'll give what i can try, hopefully i'll be picking out melodies in no time.