you read music and want to strengthen your ear use instructional dvd's

[diverse379]

SO you can read pretty well but you dont have good ear

Here is a way to strengthen you command of the music

I have the conteporary organ
dvd but this technique will work well with cassandra oniels tape as well


first learn to play the examples chord for chord

next listen to the example and count the quarter notes or the 8th notes
and write out the chords in staff paper
this means you are using your ear to catch the time each chord changes
being sure to fit the chords into each measure

read back the example be sure you covered every beat of the measure

this is called transcribing
it is easier to do because you already have all the notes
all you have to do is get the rhythmns but doing this practice will help you get a better command of the music

eventually you will be able to listen and create a chord chart
 

[Ladyn]

Diverse:

This type of exercise is also good for those who don't read well too.  I read the treble cleff fluently due to playing trumpet for 8 years and singing in the school chior for 6 years.  It is the bass cleff I have problems with, so this type of exercise helps me to become fluent reading the bass cleff!  I have been doing this now for about 2 weeks and I already see a difference in my ability to read and memorize the songs as well. 

Thanks so much for all that you contribute to us all who are just starting. I have many of your posts printed out and I re-read them and each time I learn something different or the lightbulb will come on for me!  So your help and time spent explaining things is such a blessing to me and I know to others as well.  God Bless You! 

Nichole

[diverse379]

Diverse:

This type of exercise is also good for those who don't read well too.  I read the treble cleff fluently due to playing trumpet for 8 years and singing in the school chior for 6 years.  It is the bass cleff I have problems with, so this type of exercise helps me to become fluent reading the bass cleff!  I have been doing this now for about 2 weeks and I already see a difference in my ability to read and memorize the songs as well. 

Thanks so much for all that you contribute to us all who are just starting. I have many of your posts printed out and I re-read them and each time I learn something different or the lightbulb will come on for me!  So your help and time spent explaining things is such a blessing to me and I know to others as well.  God Bless You! 

Nichole

Thanks for those kind words

sometimes I wonder if anyone is getting anything from the posts I start.

but that is awesome that in the rereading you gain a greater depth in understanding or as you say a light bulb will go off

my threads and posts are usually written during a moment of inspiration.
It may be something I discover while practicing.  Or I will have my own ahah! moment and I will share right then and there, what it is i am working on.

And I have studied very hard some of the more subtle things that make music work so what you read is the regurgetation of several thousands of dollars worth of books my own trial and error
songs i am working on lessons I am taking or have taken.


we are all growing and I am definitely not where I want to be, 
in fact sometimes I wish I could play with the ease of other younger musicians I see and encounter,

but then I have a gig where a pastor will walk up to me and say your good or you really did well
and it makes me think ok they are hearing something.  that I am missing.

I think we all tend to be hyper critical of ourselves 

but hey now i am rambling on and on

so enough of that

thanks again for the kind words,

[Craig G]

sometimes I wonder if anyone is getting anything from the posts I start.

Please.  I always get plenty of info from your posts, very insightful man.

I don't post that much, but I read all the time and appreciate your thoughts.  Thanks.

[piano23]

I'm a reader and I really want to get a better ear. especially playing for a Baptist church. This is what I'm doing. Hopefully this will leading to sitting down and just playing  ONE DAY!!!!! Thanks for letting me know that I'm doing the right thing!