Adequate Level of Ear Training for a Professional Musician

Adequate Level of Ear Training for a Professional Musician

Q: In the Fanatic’s Guide to Ear Training and Sight Singing book, I am memorizing the sounds of all 12 notes against a key center. But in the Ear Training One Note Complete book I’m memorizing them against a key cadence. I’m really lost. I don’t understand what I’m supposed to be memorizing or how I’m supposed to memorize it. In regular ear training, I’m memorizing intervals, a 3rd (G-B, A-C, etc); but in this program I’m memorizing all notes against a C? And what is an adequate level for a professional musician, accomplishment of the Ear Training One Note Complete series, or Two Note Ear Training?

A: A key center is created by a cadence therefore both books are working on the same thing. Basically getting you to hear notes in relationship to a key rather than in relationship to each other (i.e. interval training). Remember you are memorizing all the notes sounds against a key not against a C. An adequate level for a professional musician would be to at least have the Two Note Ear Training method together.

I’ve given you some rather general answers to your questions. I suggest that you go read the FAQs associated with these books. I think will answer many of your questions on a deeper level but also may spark some more questions from you.

It is also recommended that you read Bruce Arnold’s Blog at his artist site. It contains more discussion of the musical topics found in these FAQs as well as other subjects of interest. You will also find the “Music Education Genealogy Chart” located here which shows you the historic significance of the music education products found on the Muse Eek Publishing Company Website.