Ear Training & Aural Skills Masterclass (Parts 1, 2, and 3) from Udemy

100% Answer Rate. Every single question posted to this class is answered within 24 hours by the instructor.

Are you a music maker, performer, composer, or aspiring songwriter looking to up your game? This is the place to start.

Ear Training and Aural Skills is the practice of learning to play music by ear, learning to notate music by ear, and learning to understand music on a deeper level just by hearing it. In this class we are going to learn techniques for listening, analyzing, and notating music (writing it down) just by listening. Perfect Pitch is not required.If you don't know me, I've published a lot of music theory classes here. Those classes have been really successful, and the number one request I've been getting from students is to make an Ear Training sequence of classes. So here it is. This series will have 6 parts:

Part 1: Rhythms
Part 2: Diatonic Intervals
Part 3: Melodies
Part 4: Diatonic Harmony
Part 5: Chromatic Melodies
Part 6: Chromatic Harmony

This class is the "Masterclass" Version, and it contains the complete parts 1, 2, and 3. Each of these classes comes with about 4 hours of training, and a LOT of things to practice with. And of course, access to me with any questions you have at any time.

Here is a list of some of the topics we will cover:

Why Do We Care about Ear Training?
The Myth of Perfect Pitch
Relative Pitch
"True Pitch"
Using a Tuner and Metronome
Intervals
Intervals in Music
Dictation Practice Quizzes
Notating Rhythms in 4/4, 3/4, and 2/4
Working with Pitch
Adding in Rests and Ties
Adding in 16th Notes
Notating Rhythms in 3/8, 6/8, and 9/8
Adding in Triplets
Music Intervals
Methods of Interval Recognition
Using Colors, Numbers, People, and Textures
Using Familiar Melodies
Identifying Major intervals
Identifying Minor intervals
Notating a Melody by Ear
100s of music exercises
Identifying Melodic and Harmonic Intervals
Commonly Confused Interval Groups
Identifying phrases rather than individual notes
Applying ear training to your guitar, voice, keyboard or other instruments.
Ear training guitar
Looking for "Pillars" in a melody as anchor points.
Using Scales and Scale Fragments to help identify a series of notes.
Identifying certain scales that will be helpful to melodic dictation.
Working with chords and arpeggios
Identifying a chord outline and implied harmony
Notating a Melody by Ear
Play music by ear
A whole lot of things to practice with.
And Much, Much, More.

My Promise to You:

I am a full-time Music composer and Educator. If you have any questions please post them in the class or send me a direct message. I will respond within 24 hours. And if you find this class isn't for you, I am more than happy for you to take advantage of the 30-day money-back guarantee. No questions asked.

What makes me qualified to teach you?

In addition to being a composer and educator, I also have a Ph.D. in music, I am a university music professor, and have a long list of awards for teaching.

But more importantly: I use this stuff every day. I write music professionally, I am an active guitarist, and I stay on top of all the latest techniques, workflows, and styles. As you will see in this class, I just love this stuff. And I love teaching it.

You will not have another opportunity to learn Ear Training in a more comprehensive way than this.

Let's get started.

See you in lesson 1.

All best,

Jason (but call me Jay...)

What's inside

Learning objectives

Students will develop skills for listening, repeating, and writing music down completely by ear.
Students will be able to notate music by ear after finishing this class.
Students will be able to identify intervals by ear after finishing this class.
Students will have an unlimited supply of practice materials after this course.
Students will develop a deeper understanding of notated rhythms.
What is perfect pitch?
What is relative pitch?

Identifying rhythms in 4/4
Identifying rhythms with rests and ties
Identifying and notating rhythms with 16th notes
Notating rhythms with triplets
Identifying rhythms in 6/8, 9/8, and 3/8
Show more
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Students will develop skills for listening, repeating, and writing music down completely by ear.
Students will be able to notate music by ear after finishing this class.
Students will be able to identify intervals by ear after finishing this class.
Students will have an unlimited supply of practice materials after this course.
Students will develop a deeper understanding of notated rhythms.
What is perfect pitch?
What is relative pitch?
Identifying rhythms in 4/4
Identifying rhythms with rests and ties
Identifying and notating rhythms with 16th notes
Notating rhythms with triplets
Identifying rhythms in 6/8, 9/8, and 3/8
Show more
Show less

Syllabus

Just Rhythms - For Now.

Introduction

What is Ear Training?

Why Do We Care About Ear Training?

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Develops skills in listening, analyzing, and notating music, which are essential for music makers looking to deepen their understanding and enhance their craft

Explores the myth of perfect pitch and emphasizes relative pitch, which is a more practical and achievable skill for most musicians to develop

Covers rhythms in various time signatures, including 4/4, 3/4, 2/4, 3/8, 6/8, and 9/8, which provides a comprehensive foundation for understanding rhythmic notation

Includes dictation practice quizzes, which are essential for developing aural skills and the ability to transcribe music accurately

Requires learners to use a tuner and metronome, which may require additional purchases for some students who do not already own these items

Teaches learners to use software like MuseScore, which may require a separate download and installation process, but is free to use

Reviews summary

Comprehensive ear training & aural skills course

According to learners, this course provides a structured and comprehensive foundation for developing aural skills, covering rhythms, intervals, and melodies. Students frequently highlight the instructor's clear explanations and passionate teaching style as significant positives. The course includes plenty of practice exercises, which many find essential and very helpful for skill development. While some reviewers note that consistency and dedication are required, the overall feedback suggests this masterclass is a highly effective resource for anyone looking to improve their musical ear.

Requires consistent practice and effort.

"Ear training takes consistent practice, and this course provides the framework but you need to put in the work."

"This isn't a magic bullet; you need to dedicate time daily or weekly to practice the exercises."

"Improvement comes with consistent effort following the course structure."

Focuses on fundamental aural concepts.

"Provides a solid foundation in rhythm and melodic dictation."

"Excellent for beginners or those needing to strengthen fundamentals in ear training."

"Covers the essential building blocks of aural skills effectively."

Instructor is passionate and engaging.

"Jay's passion for the subject is infectious, making the lessons enjoyable."

"The instructor's enthusiasm really motivates you to keep practicing."

"I enjoyed the instructor's personality and the way he presents the material."

"A very engaging and knowledgeable teacher."

Helps significantly improve aural skills.

"I've seen a noticeable improvement in my ability to recognize intervals and rhythms by ear."

"This class has dramatically improved my ear training ability. Highly recommended!"

"It really helped me solidify my understanding and practical skills in dictation."

"I feel much more confident in my ability to listen to and understand music now."

"Definitely helps build a stronger musical ear."

Provides numerous practice exercises.

"I appreciate the sheer amount of practice material provided. It's essential for improvement."

"There are hundreds of exercises, which is exactly what you need for ear training."

"The dictation quizzes and exercises are very helpful for applying what is taught."

"Having so many things to practice with is a huge plus for this course."

"This course gives you everything you need to practice effectively."

Instructor explains concepts clearly.

"The instructor explains concepts very clearly, which is crucial for a topic like ear training."

"Jay is an excellent teacher. His explanations are clear, concise, and easy to follow."

"The lectures are easy to understand, and the examples are helpful."

"I found the explanations really clear and easy to follow along with."

"The way the instructor breaks down complex ideas makes them very approachable."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Ear Training & Aural Skills Masterclass (Parts 1, 2, and 3) with these activities:

Review Music Notation Basics

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Solidify your understanding of music notation to better grasp rhythmic and melodic dictation exercises.

Browse courses on Music Notation

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Review the basics of note values and time signatures.
Practice writing out simple rhythms and melodies.
Familiarize yourself with common musical symbols.

Read 'The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music Theory, 2nd Edition'

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Reinforce your understanding of music theory concepts to improve your ability to analyze and notate music by ear.

View Music Theory Note by Note: Your Guide to How... on Amazon

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Read the chapters on rhythm, melody, and harmony.
Complete the exercises at the end of each chapter.
Take notes on key concepts and definitions.

Rhythm Dictation Practice

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Improve your rhythmic dictation skills through regular practice with online exercises.

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Find online rhythm dictation resources.
Practice notating rhythms of varying complexity.
Focus on identifying note values and time signatures.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Compose Simple Melodies and Rhythms

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Strengthen your understanding of musical elements by composing your own short pieces.

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Create short melodies using diatonic intervals.
Write simple rhythmic patterns in different time signatures.
Notate your compositions using music notation software.

Practice Dictation with a Study Partner

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Enhance your ear training skills by practicing dictation exercises with a peer.

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Find a study partner who is also taking the course.
Take turns dictating rhythms and melodies to each other.
Provide constructive feedback on each other's work.

Review 'Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory'

Show steps

Deepen your understanding of music theory to improve your ability to analyze and understand music by ear.

View Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory, Bk 3 on Amazon

Show steps

Review the sections on intervals, scales, and chords.
Complete the exercises and quizzes in the book.
Use the book as a reference when working on dictation exercises.

Transcribe Your Favorite Songs

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Apply your ear training skills to transcribe your favorite songs and improve your ability to recognize musical elements.

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Choose a song that you enjoy listening to.
Listen to the song repeatedly and try to notate the melody and rhythm.
Use music notation software to create a transcription of the song.
Compare your transcription to the original song and make corrections.

Career center

Learners who complete Ear Training & Aural Skills Masterclass (Parts 1, 2, and 3) will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Composer

A composer creates original music, often for a variety of media such as film, television, video games, or live performance. This course directly supports the work of a composer by providing training in aural skills, particularly in notating melodies and rhythms by ear. This ability enhances a composer's capacity to transcribe musical ideas, analyze complex scores, and develop original material. In addition, the course helps build a foundation in understanding intervals, melodies, and harmonies, which are the building blocks of musical composition. A composer who can readily identify musical elements by ear has an advantage when creating or arranging music, in addition to dictating or notating their own musical ideas. This course can help someone in a variety of musical contexts including professional endeavors.

See salaries and explore the career path for Composer

Songwriter

A songwriter crafts lyrics and melodies for songs, and this course is highly beneficial for anyone aiming to improve their songwriting. The course's core focus on ear training allows a songwriter to more effectively capture musical ideas and develop melodies. Additionally, the skills covered in notating rhythms and recognizing intervals support the creative process. This course may be useful by increasing the speed and accuracy of capturing musical ideas and translating them into written form. A songwriter who can quickly understand and transcribe the nuances of a melody or rhythm is more likely to be innovative in their work. This course can help improve the ability to play back ideas in a studio or at home during the creative process.

See salaries and explore the career path for Songwriter

Music Arranger

A music arranger adapts existing musical compositions for different instruments or voices, and this course is very helpful for those who want to pursue this career path. By strengthening the ability to discern and notate melodies, rhythms, and harmonies, this course allows a music arranger to more effectively work with complex musical structures. A music arranger must be able to deconstruct a musical piece and rearrange it in a way that is both true to the original and suitable for a new instrumentation. This course may be useful for this since it helps improve the student's ability to identify and understand the specific elements in the piece that determine its character. A music arranger who has a strong foundation in aural skills has an advantage in understanding the subtleties of a piece before beginning their work.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Arranger

Orchestrator

An orchestrator takes a composer's sketch and assigns specific musical lines to various instruments in an orchestra or ensemble. This course is highly relevant to anyone who hopes to enter the field of orchestration, by helping them to develop skills in listening to and analyzing music. An orchestrator must be able to transcribe music, as well as understand rhythmic patterns, intervals, melodies, and harmonies. This course can be very valuable to someone wishing to orchestrate music. The ability to quickly identify these elements improves an orchestrator's efficiency, allowing them to focus on the creative aspects of choosing timbres and textures for a musical work. This course's focus on musical dictation, practice, and listening exercises can help those pursuing a career in orchestration.

See salaries and explore the career path for Orchestrator

Music Producer

A music producer oversees the recording process, shaping the overall sound of a song or album, and ear training is foundational to this role. By enhancing the ability to listen critically and analyze musical elements like rhythms, melodies, and intervals, this course may help a music producer work more effectively. A music producer needs to be able to hear fine details and make decisions based on their analysis. This course may be useful for helping students make better judgements about the sonic qualities of a piece. A music producer who excels in aural skills can more accurately translate their creative vision into a final product, and this course can help support that goal.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Producer

Video Game Composer

A video game composer creates musical scores for video games, and this course helps in the development of the skills necessary for this career. This course's focus on ear training helps a video game composer quickly transcribe musical ideas. In this role, a composer must be able to understand and notate a wide variety of musical styles. The course content may be useful in improving a composer's ability to do so. A video game composer also needs to be able to quickly modify musical ideas to fit a game's narrative and aesthetic. This course's focus on intervals, rhythms, and melodies may be useful to this career path. This course can help a student play back musical ideas in a studio or at home.

See salaries and explore the career path for Video Game Composer

Music Educator

A music educator teaches musical concepts and skills to students of all ages, and this course can help educators improve their own musical abilities. The aural skills developed in this course, such as the ability to identify intervals, rhythms, and melodies by ear, are essential for demonstrating musical concepts. By improving their own ear training, a music educator can more efficiently guide students through musical exercises and performances. This course can help educators refine their understanding of music theory which can help them in their teaching. A music educator who is well versed in aural skills can provide better feedback and instruction to students, and this course is a great way to hone those skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Educator

Film Score Composer

A film score composer writes music for films, and this course's skills translate directly to the work required in this career. This role requires composing music by ear, quickly and effectively, and the course's focus on aural skills helps develop this ability. This course may be useful in helping film score composers listen to a scene and translate what they hear into music. This course may be useful by helping composers quickly notate and develop musical ideas. A film score composer must also be able to recognize intervals, melodies, and rhythms. By increasing proficiency in these areas, this course can be a foundation for success in this competitive field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Film Score Composer

Studio Musician

A studio musician plays instruments or sings for recording sessions in films, television, or music albums, and this course may be useful for this career. This role requires a high level of musical proficiency, as well as the ability to quickly learn and perform pieces in a variety of genres. The course's emphasis on ear training is valuable in helping studio musicians grasp the nuances of a musical work. By focusing on rhythmic accuracy and melodic recognition, this course may be useful in helping studio musicians perform with precision. A studio musician who excels in aural skills can more effectively contribute to a recording session, and this course can help develop skills in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Studio Musician

Music Therapist

A music therapist uses music to address the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals, and a strong foundation in music is beneficial for this role. This course may help in this career by helping a therapist further develop their music skills. For a music therapist, the ability to quickly understand and adapt music to meet their specific needs is essential, and this course helps them in developing this proficiency. The course's focus on listening, analyzing, and notating music may be helpful in gaining a better understanding of musical forms and styles. A music therapist who can apply skills developed in ear training can more effectively use music to assist their patients, and this course can provide these foundational abilities.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Therapist

Choir Director

A choir director leads a group of singers in rehearsals and performances, and this course may be useful for any aspiring choir director. The skills taught in this course can help develop a deeper understanding of musicality and help a choir director better help their group. A choir director who is strong in aural skills has an advantage when leading rehearsals and performances. This course may be useful for a choir director by improving their ability to pinpoint errors in pitch and rhythm, and communicate with their singers. This course can improve a director's musicality, allowing them to better lead their ensemble.

See salaries and explore the career path for Choir Director

Sound Designer

A sound designer creates and manipulates audio for various media, such as film, video games, or theater, and this course may be useful in helping a sound designer develop their ability to work with musical elements. Sound designers often use musical elements in their work, and the specific skills developed in this course, such as the recognition of musical intervals and rhythms, may be useful to sound designers. Sound designers also need to have the ability to analyze sound, and the ear training exercises taught in this course may help to improve that ability. Sound designers who are also musicians have an advantage in this field, and this course helps in the development of these necessary musical proficiencies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sound Designer

Musical Instrument Repair Technician

A musical instrument repair technician repairs and maintains instruments, and a strong ear is useful in this career. This course's focus on ear training can be useful when identifying issues with an instrument by the sound it is producing. A technician with a refined sense of pitch and rhythm can better understand the specific issues a musician may be having with their instrument. By focusing on interval recognition and rhythmic accuracy, this course may be useful in improving a technician's hearing. This course can help build a technician's foundation with sonic analysis.

See salaries and explore the career path for Musical Instrument Repair Technician

Disc Jockey

A disc jockey selects and plays music for an audience, and this course may be useful in developing a deeper understanding of musicality. A disc jockey needs to be able to quickly identify the key, tempo, and rhythm of a song, and this is an ability that this course may help with. By improving the ability to hear and analyze rhythms, melodies, and intervals, this course may be useful for DJs who want to explore music in more detail. A disc jockey who can appreciate music in more detail can bring that passion to their audiences. This course is foundational to improving one's ability to hear music.

See salaries and explore the career path for Disc Jockey

Audio Engineer

An audio engineer works with the technical aspects of recording and manipulating sound, and this course may be useful by helping an audio engineer further develop their listening skills. The skills in this course may be useful by strengthening an audio engineer's ability to discern fine differences in pitch and rhythm. This course may be useful in the development of an engineer's ability to identify and correct issues in a recording. An audio engineer who develops their ability in aural skills can more effectively shape the sonic qualities of a recording, and this course may help in that regard.

See salaries and explore the career path for Audio Engineer

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Ear Training & Aural Skills Masterclass (Parts 1, 2, and 3).

Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory, Bk 3

Save

Comprehensive guide to music theory, covering topics such as rhythm, melody, harmony, and form. It's a useful reference for students who want to deepen their understanding of the theoretical concepts behind ear training. This book is commonly used as a textbook at academic institutions and useful reference tool.

Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory, Bk 3

Paperback

Music Theory Note by Note

Save

Provides a comprehensive overview of music theory concepts, including rhythm, melody, and harmony. It's particularly useful for students who need a refresher on the fundamentals before diving into ear training. While not specifically focused on aural skills, it provides a solid theoretical foundation. This book is commonly used as a textbook at academic institutions.

Music Theory Note by Note: Your Guide to How Music...

Kindle Edition

Ear Training & Aural Skills Masterclass (Parts 1, 2, and 3)

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Comprehensive ear training & aural skills course

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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