The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: jacoblikesmusic
Date: 2010-11-28 22:18
I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for books or computer software in order to increase one's ability to play by ear? Something geared specifically towards developing the skill of listening to something and then immediately being able to play it back like in jazz.
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Author: PrincessJ
Date: 2010-11-28 23:31
Exactly. And try listening to just little bits of a song at first, like four or so measures, and just do your best to play it back. Once you get the idea of it go ahead and try to play back big chunks (or all of) the song. It's pretty easy to learn.
Get some theory books and dapple around in them, nothing too complicated, just enough to teach you the basics for now.
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2010-11-29 03:37
As part of your normal practice routine, maybe the last 10 or 15 minutes each day at first, try turning your radio on to a station you like and playing along with whatever songs come on. Play the melody if you can or simply try to find notes that don't clash. At first, it will probably be a little ugly as you try to find the key and match the melody. If you stay with it, however, you will improve. I expect, the better player you are in general, the faster you will begin to pick it up.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: Reedirect
Date: 2010-11-29 13:10
I'm working with a computer program called "Band-in-a-Box". This allows you to play to either self-generated chord-progressions (changes) or already available changes from jazz standards and other traditionals found in the "Real Book".
I find it very helpful to develop my improvisation skills by first playing the theme over the changes and then hearing to the chords and finding my way through the respective scales. The program ist very, very patient! You can reduce the speed, you can simplify the chords, you can transpose the entire work-sheet, you can define the accompaning style, and it always plays like a metronome, doesn't complain, and jumps to live at 3 a.m!
It is much better than the usual playalong-CD
Best
Jo
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Author: Gandalfe
Date: 2010-11-29 18:44
Another method to assist us is to play a simple tune like Jingle Bells and then play it in all keys. Then start to play with musicians on your stereo. Fun stuff that.
Jim and Suzy
Pacifica Big Band
Seattle, Washington
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Author: ned
Date: 2010-12-09 03:04
''I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for books or computer software in order to increase one's ability to play by ear?''
I guess it'd be a fairly short book of maybe one page, which would advise you to ''put on a record''.
Seriously though, in my view, the suggestions relating to band-in-a-box, the radio, Jungle Bells and so forth are all worthwhile exercises.
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Author: flimity
Date: 2010-12-09 15:10
Smart Music has an ear-training module. It plays a simple pattern, you repeat it, then it shows you on the staff what you played and whether you repeated correctly.
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