Melodies and more.
In this lesson: intervals up to the perfect fifth, dotted rhythms, the basics of melodic dictations, and a dash of music theory.
Got questions or comments? eartrainer@gmail.com
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Lesson #2 - Show Notes
First off:
To download the podcast, click the show's name in the post just above, or subcribe using the RSS feed icon to the left.
The pdf containing all the examples and solutions to the exercises can be found here.
So in this lesson we do our first melodic dictation together, but don't worry, I'll be gentle. In order to ease to ease you into melodic dictations, here are some useful tips for each stage (more or less) of the dictation process.
Setup: You'll be told how many measures the dictation will be so write that out first, give yourself lots of space to make what ever marks you'll need. Second of all you'll be told what key the piece is in so write that down and then get acquainted with it. Say all the note names in your head and know which ones are which scale degrees, if you think about how Ab' is the fifth scale degree now, you'll be glad you don't have to later when you're trying to put music to paper. You'll be told the time signature, so write that down too, it's useful information. You'll also be told the first note, so write that down too. Finally you'll be played a tonic triad, or if your Ear Trainer is super hip, you'll be played a Maj6(b9 #11). Finally sing the tonic triad (in your head!) and know the relation of the given note to that triad.
During the dictation: You should work out some sort of short hand for melodic dictations so that eventually you'll be able to copy down the simple passages in nearly real time. It's not too important what kind of short hand you use (and I encourage you to develop and improve your own) but it must be two things: fast, and readable. What I write for rhythms is draw a circle for whole notes, a circle with a slash through it for half notes, a line for quarter notes, and from then on in I just draw the number of flags that corresponds to each division. For pitches I just write the first letter of the corresponding diatonic solfegé syllable (if you don't know what the solfegé is don't worry, I'll discuss it in an upcoming episode) since they all start with a different letter, and for notes that leave the key, I draw a "^" for sharp notes, and "V" for flat notes since the chromatic solfegé syllables contain a few musical alliterations. Most people just put a quick dot on the staff where the pitch sounds, but I like my way because I find it's quicker, do what ever suits you.
The other reason why I write the solfegé syllables rather than the pitches on the staff is because I do all my short hand above the staff. The reason why I do this is because having to flip my pencil around while writing is not something that I'm interested in. It's something I end up doing anyways, but I try to keep it to a minimum so that I never have to worry which marks are the right ones, and which ones just weren't fully erased, thats too much to think about!
Afterwards: Gussy the page up a bit before checking it or handing it in, whatever the case may be. It's something you took the time to do, so you might as well go the extra mile to have it legible.
So that's all I've got to say to you. Get out of here, get some fresh air and sing to your self on the street like you know a song worth singing.
To download the podcast, click the show's name in the post just above, or subcribe using the RSS feed icon to the left.
The pdf containing all the examples and solutions to the exercises can be found here.
So in this lesson we do our first melodic dictation together, but don't worry, I'll be gentle. In order to ease to ease you into melodic dictations, here are some useful tips for each stage (more or less) of the dictation process.
Setup: You'll be told how many measures the dictation will be so write that out first, give yourself lots of space to make what ever marks you'll need. Second of all you'll be told what key the piece is in so write that down and then get acquainted with it. Say all the note names in your head and know which ones are which scale degrees, if you think about how Ab' is the fifth scale degree now, you'll be glad you don't have to later when you're trying to put music to paper. You'll be told the time signature, so write that down too, it's useful information. You'll also be told the first note, so write that down too. Finally you'll be played a tonic triad, or if your Ear Trainer is super hip, you'll be played a Maj6(b9 #11). Finally sing the tonic triad (in your head!) and know the relation of the given note to that triad.
During the dictation: You should work out some sort of short hand for melodic dictations so that eventually you'll be able to copy down the simple passages in nearly real time. It's not too important what kind of short hand you use (and I encourage you to develop and improve your own) but it must be two things: fast, and readable. What I write for rhythms is draw a circle for whole notes, a circle with a slash through it for half notes, a line for quarter notes, and from then on in I just draw the number of flags that corresponds to each division. For pitches I just write the first letter of the corresponding diatonic solfegé syllable (if you don't know what the solfegé is don't worry, I'll discuss it in an upcoming episode) since they all start with a different letter, and for notes that leave the key, I draw a "^" for sharp notes, and "V" for flat notes since the chromatic solfegé syllables contain a few musical alliterations. Most people just put a quick dot on the staff where the pitch sounds, but I like my way because I find it's quicker, do what ever suits you.
The other reason why I write the solfegé syllables rather than the pitches on the staff is because I do all my short hand above the staff. The reason why I do this is because having to flip my pencil around while writing is not something that I'm interested in. It's something I end up doing anyways, but I try to keep it to a minimum so that I never have to worry which marks are the right ones, and which ones just weren't fully erased, thats too much to think about!
Afterwards: Gussy the page up a bit before checking it or handing it in, whatever the case may be. It's something you took the time to do, so you might as well go the extra mile to have it legible.
So that's all I've got to say to you. Get out of here, get some fresh air and sing to your self on the street like you know a song worth singing.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Lesson #1 - Welcome
Welcome to the podcast!
As of now the first episode of the Ear Trainer podcast is live. Yay!
In this lesson: basic intervals, dictations, music theory and more.
The mp3 for the podcast can be found here.
The pdf containing all the examples and solutions to the exercises can be found here.
As of now the first episode of the Ear Trainer podcast is live. Yay!
In this lesson: basic intervals, dictations, music theory and more.
The mp3 for the podcast can be found here.
The pdf containing all the examples and solutions to the exercises can be found here.
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