Klarinet Archive - Posting 000811.txt from 2004/03

From: "Patricia A. Smith" <arlyss1@------.net>
Subj: [kl] How DO you teach ear training in general?; was, ear training/Anne
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2004 11:41:06 -0500

Ormondtoby Montoya wrote:

>Perhaps it's not what a school kid wants, however.
>
>

This brought up a question in my mind for all of those who teach -
whether it is beginners, or more advanced students on the list:

How do you work with ear training, when it comes to your students? Do
you deal with the issue at all? Or do you leave that for whether or not
the student decides to pursue music on the university level? Or do you
leave it for another area?

I was one of those kids that learned a LOT by ear, as well as by print.
I'd plonk out whatever I heard on the piano, then write it out on
manuscript later on, if I wanted to.

I encourage my students to do this on the clarinet - along with their
other studies - to pick tunes they like on tv, radio, whatever - of ANY
genre - even the dreaded top 20 - and just try to recreate it on the
horn. Encouragement is given for each little improvement. And then we
write it down - first melody, then rhythm. And then we "read" what is
written, and compare how it "sounds" in its original form, to what we
wrote.

Another side to this is that the student can also get a good sense of
the function of rhythm in ensemble playing, especially if they're
picking up melodies from a variety of sources. Jazz players do this
sort of transcription of solos ALL the time. Why not do it for ear
training as a regular part of lessons? Kids think it's fun - and it
encourages music reading skills.

Of course, I "cheat" since I play piano. :p (It WOULD be nice if the
fella I bought the piano from would deliver my piano!)

Patricia Smith

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