Understanding Key Signatures
As a freshman theory student I was required to name all the keys signatures within a minute as my professor listened with stopwatch in hand:… Read More »Understanding Key Signatures
As a freshman theory student I was required to name all the keys signatures within a minute as my professor listened with stopwatch in hand:… Read More »Understanding Key Signatures
This engaging ear training activity is a challenge to anticipate and hear a chord resolution before playing. Hitting the pause button before the solution is… Read More »An Adventure in Creating and Resolving Dominant 7th Chords
It good to know which keys to play on the piano, or the correct valve(s) on a trumpet, but it’s even better to hear pitches… Read More »Getting Your Ears in Shape
One day as I was conducting a workshop on the topic, “Playing by Ear” someone commented, “You use chords as if they’re a language for… Read More »Chords in Action
Playing by ear is a skill that can be learned. This could be likened to the skill of an artist who sketches what he… Read More »April Showers: An Exercise in Playing by Ear
Succession by Fifths: A Progression with Many Uses As we listen to music we discover that there are chord progressions that lead our ears… Read More »Succession by Fifths
The purpose of this exercise is to plant a seed in fertile minds, a seed that could germinate and result in life-long learning. A command… Read More »Finding Different Chords for Do Re Mi
Do you think Johann Pachelbel knew how popular his “Canon in D” would become? When I discovered the same chord progression in a few familiar… Read More »Canon in D Progression
I’m sure that most all piano students have been told to practice a piece slowly at first. For me this seemed more like a chore… Read More »The Value of Slow Practice and Counting Aloud
On numerous occasions I’ve wanted people to sing a text that is new to them. Rather than have them simultaneously deal with a new… Read More »Swapping Tunes