Metrodrones Function as a Practice Tool

Q: Thank you for taking the time to provide such a thorough response.As for the relative minor, I probably sound stupid, and I notice now that I worded that sentence somewhat poorly. I wasn’t saying that the minor key was a minor third higher, I was comparing the position of the relative minor to the major key that is a minor 3rd higher than said minor key, but my sentence wasn’t that clear. Anyway, it’s good to hear that the major key is transferable to other types of key centers. If I train with minor keys as well, should I use the same progression (I IV V I) as with the major keys?

I’m not terribly interested in having perfect pitch (anymore) either, but I still have my doubts about it being achievable as an adult, not that it’s your problem, of course. My understanding is that it’s purely synesthesia, not memory. If this is the case you would have to rewire the fundamental mechanisms that your brain uses to process sound/music which is a problem considering the relative lack of neuroplasticity of the adult brain [excluding external, physical intervention]. While I believe that through very specific technology or medical advances the brain could one day be manipulated into re-configuring itself in such a way, I don’t see how practice alone would work to develop accurate and instantaneous pitch recognition akin to color identification. If someone can only recognize pitches with a certain instrument it doesn’t sound to me as though it could be considered perfect pitch, and may have a lot more to do with memory than synesthesia, which I would think is much less reliable, though I could be wrong. Anyway, none of this is intended as argument. I simply have an interest in perfect pitch from a scientific standpoint (as opposed to a musical one) and I like to hear the viewpoints of others on the subject.

I meant to ask before about how drones related to your method because I’d been reading about them and it seemed like a similar concept. Since you brought up the MetroDrone, what does it do exactly? Is Metrodrones function simply a drone pitch that you set to the tonic? I’m assuming that’s what is does, but I don’t know if there’s more to it. Is it more or less the same principle as using the chord progressions or are there important differences I should be aware of?

Is there a certain amount of time (in hours) you would estimate for complete one-note recognition? I didn’t have a problem with any of the chord tones (I III & V), which I assume should be easy, but now that I’m on the 2nd degree of the scale I’m not really moving along. I’ve only worked on it for about an hour but I literally have 0% accuracy with it at this point.

Again, thanks for your time.

Would the Ear Training One Note Complete book be a better book for me to start with? What are the main differences between it and the Fanatic’s Guide to Ear Training and Sight Singing Book that I currently have? In the video you mention a beginner, intermediate, and advanced level. Is that all included in one book or are there different versions

of it?

A: If you have a good background in music you might try just going for the Ear Training One Note Advanced download. The only difference between Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced is how fast you hear the progressions and how much time you are given to give the answer. If you have time while commuting, driving or walking to listen and sing I would get Contextual Ear Training too. If you are practicing an instrument and playing scales etc… I would also get the MetroDrone too, if you just want to start slowly and have a fair background in music. The Metrodrone’s function is very helpful for hearing a key center as you practice various things like scales and arpeggios. If you already know a fair amount about music theory and know that there are 12 notes and what those notes would be called within the key of C then the Ear Training One Note Advanced download and see how it goes but the Ear Training One Note Complete is more cost effective if you need to go back to the intermediate level. Get the digital downloads of these books.

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.

Metrodrones Function as a Practice Tool

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