Ear Training Exercise - Some Basic Things to Learn

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Carolyn_Anderson]Carolyn Anderson

A good ear training exercise is not only an important way in helping you develop a great singing voice but also a great way to help you learn to play musical instruments easily without any guide whatsoever.

Playing instruments by ear is one of the many techniques that many aspiring musicians want to learn as this allows you to play an instrument by just listening to it and without any sheet music or guide.

A good ear training exercise helps you learn and master elements in music such as chords, rhythm, intervals and developing your pitch. Among the exercises that you get to learn to help train your ears to music are interval recognition, pitch recognition, rhythm and chord recognition.

Interval recognition is an ear training exercise that will help you identify intervals or those two-note combinations in a music or melody. Being able to identify those notes in a melody is an important skill that can also help you play instruments by ear. Most often, this exercise involves associating intervals with very familiar songs and even nursery rhymes that you have mastered for years such as associating the Major 2nd interval with the song 'Happy Birthday' or the perfect fifth with the nursery rhyme 'Twinkle, twinkle.'

An ear training exercise may also involve some rhythm recognition practice as this is also important in being able to sing well and play musical instruments by ear. Tapping your hands or feet is often a technique that can aid you in identifying the rhythm of the music. The metronome is also an important device that can help you with the timing. Muscle memory is also an important aspect of mastering rhythm and can be very useful in being able to play a melody by ear.

Another thing that you can learn in ear training is identifying chords. Of course, being able to recognize chords is important to play by ear and to play easily with other musicians as well. It also helps a lot in making your own improvisations, in composing music as well as in improvising.

Of course, playing music by ear or singing nicely in the correct pitch all need time and practice and if you want to do well in either of them, everyday practice is important. Some people who can play musical instruments by ear easily may amaze you but you can actually learn this skill by regular practice and patience.

If you intend to do ear training to hone your singing voice, it is also a great tip to have a training buddy while you practice. This will help you determine if you are singing in tune. It will also help to record your singing while you practice and play it back to help you listen to your voice or have someone else listen to your voice.

Another best way to practice ear training is to get yourself a good tutor. With the convenience of the internet today, you can also find great resources to help you train your ear to help you play music by just listening to it.

Carolyn Anderson is a music lover who also plays guitar by ear. For a good ear training software you can use conveniently at home, check out [http://www.dp-db.com/earmaster-pro]Earmaster Pro. Also check out [http://www.dp-db.com/earmaster-school]Earmaster School, an professional ear training software intended for music schools and institutions.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Ear-Training-Exercise---Some-Basic-Things-to-Learn&id=3266821] Ear Training Exercise - Some Basic Things to Learn

Learning Musical Instruments - Some Tips and Suggestions in Learning How to Play Instruments

Learning Musical Instruments - Some Tips and Suggestions in Learning How to Play Instruments
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Carolyn_Anderson]Carolyn Anderson

Learning musical instruments is one great skill you can add to your list of skills and impress your family and friends. But of course, if you love music or your love singing, learning an instrument or two is a great advantage for you.

In learning musical instruments, you can start with instruments that are easiest to learn or you may also go for those that are popular or those that you can sing along if love singing and if you love composing songs. The guitar is one good instrument to learn if you want to be a musician. You can also learn the piano, which can be learned easily.

Here are some of the instruments that you may want to learn and some tips to help you learn them fast and easy.

Guitar

Learning to play the guitar is one of the most common goals of many people especially young ones who want to be rockstars or those who dream of going on-stage to accompany their own song with their guitar playing. The guitar is also a great tool to compose and make your own song, as it is light and portable for any budding musician.

To help you speed up your learning the guitar, here are some of the tips to keep in mind.

- Learn to read tablatures. They are the faster way of learning how to play your favorite songs.

- Use the metronome to help you with the timing. Getting the right timing even from the start can help you speed up in learning how to strum the guitar in timing.

- Start learning slowly. It is important that you start slowly to help you learn the techniques correctly. Learn the correct tempo later when you already mastered the basics. Indeed, practicing slowly is important in learning musical instruments, how easy or hard they may seem.

Piano

The piano is also a very nice instrument to learn. Aside from easy on the hands, the piano is also easy to learn. Coordination is important in learning the piano. And of course, you have to learn to read notes - a skill that will help you a lot in the future. Here are some tips in learning the piano. Here are other tips to help you learn the piano easily.

- Learn one thing at a time. You can't be a Mozart in a day, so start learning one hand at a time. You may practice the right hand first then the left, and then you can proceed with training the feet.

- Stretch your arms, shoulders, hands, wrists and fingers. They are not just making you flexible, it also helps in getting the right hand position in playing the piano.

- Practice the hard part first before attempting to play the entire piece. Don't skip hard parts of the music. Once you have mastered them, you will realize that the entire music is easy to play.

Aside from these two popular instruments, you can also learn drums, violin, flute and many other instruments that you love to learn how to play. Keep in mind that in learning musical instruments, patience and commitment are also key factors.

Carolyn Anderson is a music lover and plays a number of musical instruments. If you want to learn guitar, bass and drums and play them in a variety of styles, check out [http://www.dp-db.com/music-master-pro]Music Master Pro. Also check out [http://www.dp-db.com/amazing-guitar-secrets]Amazing Guitar Secrets, a beginner and intermediate's guide to play the guitar.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Learning-Musical-Instruments---Some-Tips-and-Suggestions-in-Learning-How-to-Play-Instruments&id=3169784] Learning Musical Instruments - Some Tips and Suggestions in Learning How to Play Instruments