Transcribers (Are You Training Your Ears?)

“I CAN NOT PLAY BY EAR AT ALL”

“I AM A GRADE 6 PIANIST, BUT I NEED SHEET MUSIC TO PLAY THIS NURSERY RHYME”

“I LOVE THIS SONG, BUT I CAN’T PLAY IT, THERE’S NO TUTORIAL ON YOUTUBE”

Playing by ear -many people find it difficult. But like everything else, it is also something that you can learn.

Check this out:

Click here for the video performances

(Transcribing is the process of listening to music and trying to play it on your instrument, which is a very good ear training exercise)

My First Experience of Transcribing

After our first lesson, my jazz teacher asked me to transcribe Wynton Kelly’s solo on Autumn Leaves as homework. He probably assumed that I knew the basics of transcribing. But I didn’t. I had a REALLY tough time transcribing the solo and writing it down on sheet music. It took me more than a month to finish the assignment.

A few years down the line, I find it easy because I have transcribed several solos. I can play almost any tune by ear, and with some effort, I can figure out the chords too!

But at the same time, I know that most of the students find it difficult- scary, perhaps.

If you are one of them, don't lose hope. I encourage you to go through some of the thematic exercises for beginners-

I have carefully designed these to train you and gradually make you better at transcribing.

Level 1 is for absolute beginners, Level 2 for intermediates and Level 3 is slightly difficult.

All of my students went through these exercises in the past few weeks.

Here’s how it went:

Some of my students found it easy, some of them found it difficult. But I hope that when they will want to play their favorite song in the future, they will know how to approach the challenge.

Please watch the performance videos of the students here:

Video

You will notice a wide range of musical choices- Bollywood, rock music, prayers, old classics, and new songs. Each student has a distinct personality and their own musical choice. I gave them the freedom to choose something that they like listening to.

Conclusion:

Transcribing is really very rewarding. It is like reciting your favorite movie dialogue or your favorite poem.

It teaches you about the syntax of music, develops your musical vocabulary.

Please encourage the students by watching the video and commenting if you liked their performances!