TUESDAY 1/19
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Objectives:
1. Syllabus 2. Defining Aural Theory 3. Assessment Test |
Assignments:
Due Today: Assessment Test Due Next Class: Signed Syllabus |
Syllabus
| aural theory spring 2017 |
Aural Theory / Ear Training
Ear Training / Aural Theory: is a skill where we identify, solely by hearing: Pitches, Intervals, Melody, Chords, Rhythm
Essentially we are talking about a two part process:
Knowing the Sounds & Knowing what to call them (how to write them)
In an academic setting, these could be things like (but not limited to) :
I Play a note, you name it
I play a Chord, You name it
I play a Rhythm, write down the notation
In a practical setting, these could be things like :
Hearing a melody in your head and knowing the notes
Hearing a part of a song/solo and being able to re create it on your instrument
ALL WITHOUT SEEING ANY NOTATION OR WITHOUT AN INSTRUMENT FOR A REFERENCE
so we have Nothing to help us find it, Just our ears
Example Practical Setting :
-There is a recording session. You show up and there is no written music. You get there and the musical director has an idea of what he wants you to play and demonstrates on piano or with his voice. He sings/plays is for you a couple times then you have to be able to play it on your instrument.
(Time=$ in the studio - so you are expected to do it without rehearsal!)
Essentially we are talking about a two part process:
Knowing the Sounds & Knowing what to call them (how to write them)
In an academic setting, these could be things like (but not limited to) :
I Play a note, you name it
I play a Chord, You name it
I play a Rhythm, write down the notation
In a practical setting, these could be things like :
Hearing a melody in your head and knowing the notes
Hearing a part of a song/solo and being able to re create it on your instrument
ALL WITHOUT SEEING ANY NOTATION OR WITHOUT AN INSTRUMENT FOR A REFERENCE
so we have Nothing to help us find it, Just our ears
Example Practical Setting :
-There is a recording session. You show up and there is no written music. You get there and the musical director has an idea of what he wants you to play and demonstrates on piano or with his voice. He sings/plays is for you a couple times then you have to be able to play it on your instrument.
(Time=$ in the studio - so you are expected to do it without rehearsal!)
VARYING RANGE OF SKILLS
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TONE DEAF :
unable to perceive differences of musical pitch accurately. |
<----------------------------------> |
PERFECT PITCH:
the ability to recognize the pitch of a note or to produce any given note; a sense of absolute pitch. |
IMPORTANT:
NO MATTER WHERE YOU FALL ON THE SPECTRUM OF
TONE DEAF ------PERFECT PITCH,
AURAL SKILLS CAN BE DEVELOPED THROUGH PRACTICE
NO MATTER WHERE YOU FALL ON THE SPECTRUM OF
TONE DEAF ------PERFECT PITCH,
AURAL SKILLS CAN BE DEVELOPED THROUGH PRACTICE
For Dylan, Hearing sounds is like seeing colors for us -
EX. When we see something blue, we just KNOW that it is blue -
we don't need to think and analyze and look at another color for reference
GOD GIVEN / GENETIC ABILITY? OR LEARNED SKILL?
CAN WE LEARN/DEVELOP PERFECT PITCH AS AN ADULT?
SURELY EXPOSURE / PRACTICE plays a part ...
********if we go back to our color metaphor, we are exposed to many different colors from a young age - that's why infant's toys and shows always have BRIGHT COLORS*********
OF COURSE IT IS A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF MUSICIANS WHO HAVE PERFECT PITCH
ALTHOUGH
MOST MUSICIANS USUALLY HAVE DEVELOPED RELATIVE PITCH TO VARYING DEGREES
Relative pitch is the ability of a person to identify or re-create a given musical note by comparing it to a reference note and identifying the interval between those two notes.
This means that if you have VERY GOOD relative pitch , you could do what Dylan does IF you had a reference pitch, say a G
Keep in mind that what Dylan is doing in these videos is very Academic -
We would ever have a practical situation where someone lays down their arm on the piano and we have to know the notes,
BUT
Dylan is is skilled that you could play him 30 seconds of a pop song (maybe even the entire song) and Dylan could tell you every chord, note in the melody and rhythm, AND be able to write them down on manuscript
He can literally hear ANY melody in his head (no mater how complex the melody/harmony) and notate it / play it