Why didn’t I learn this ear training concept in music school?!

[@blow-by-blowtrumpet]

This is real ear training. I gave up on "ear training" apps years ago (like you say interval training has no impact on improvisation) and instead starting learning to sing everything (heads, solos, walking bass lines, arpeggios, chord tone solos). It has had (and is having) a massive impact on my playing. I used to wonder how the likes of Chet Baker, Lee Morgan, Charlie Parker etc got so good after only 6 or 7 years on their instrument. Then I heard that Chet Baker could already sing all the popular standards and solos before he ever picked up a trumpet. I still couldn't do that now.

[@ChrisLoMusic]

Yes!! This is awesome to hear! Thanks for sharing! They say that Chet Baker didn’t know “theory” as well. He obviously had his own understanding of how music works but it wasn’t based off of the way that people are taught music theory. It was based off of his own internal understanding of knowing, like you said, so many songs and melodies.

[@blow-by-blowtrumpet]

@@ChrisLoMusic Right - I think if you know enough melodies and can execute them on your instrument then every bit of theory is just a subset of a library of sounds.

[@ChrisLoMusic]

100%!

[@DiegoAlexanderOfficial]

Dude this is incredibly brilliant and enlightening

[@ChrisLoMusic]

Awesome to hear!!

[@TLMuse]

I've commented about the importance of audiation on a number of YT videos on improvisation and music theory. In the many videos on these topics I've watched, I don't think I've ever heard an instructor actually use the term "audiation." It's great to hear it discussed so explicitly here. -Tom

[@tbonealex]

This is taught everywhere!

[@ChrisLoMusic]

Solfege is taught everywhere, but teaching audiation at a level that Hal Galper explains, I haven't seen much of. But of course there will be a few great instructors that go that deep.

[@tbonealex]

@@ChrisLoMusic I feel like audiation is taught just about everywhere. At least, it was taught at the three colleges where I studied, at several jazz camps I attended, by several different private teachers I worked with, and at the three colleges where I’ve been a music professor. In my experience, it’s about as common as solfège! However, when I have taught it, I have occasionally encountered people who literally cannot audiate. The idea of “hearing” sounds in their mind’s ear is like the idea of tasting the color yellow. Apparently, these are often the same people who don’t have an inner monologue in their minds either!

[@wagonet]

Great video

[@SimonWojcik1]

They most certainly DO teach audiation at Berklee. I've taken ET1, ET2, and Harmonic Ear Training. The subject has absolutely been discussed.

[@mrbouncelol]

Thanks for pointing out the clickbait

[@ChrisLoMusic]

I took ET1, ET2, ET3 & ET4, and there is a little blurb in the beginning of some of the books where they mention “inner hear” but it’s very short and in my opinion underemphasized. My professors and the books never mentioned the term audiation (maybe this has changed in the past few years). I think there could have been an entire class dedicated specifically to audiation and strengthening the vividness of your inner musical environment. Maybe your professors used the term and dove more into the topic but mine did not. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[@SimonWojcik1]

@@ChrisLoMusic Different Professors may use different terminology. I noticed that with many things, they don't always agree on which term is best. Prof. Chase, for example, did not like the term "audiation" and instead used "inner hearing", but he was quite adamant about it's application. He would always say it's important to hear the note in your mind first before you sing it so that you are not "sliding" into the note.

[@Dr.RolyndDellaSylvan]

@@SimonWojcik1 I studied with Mr Chase and am still friends with him decades later: at NewEngCnsrvtry, Juilliard, & New York University they/we absolutely emphasize audiation/inner ear/“hear what you want to play/etc. I wish you health and joy. Dr D

[@ChrisLoMusic]

@SimonWojcik1 Awesome to hear that some professors are emphasizing this concept! It's so crucial. Thanks again for sharing!

[@fp.chattanooga]

This channel is going to be 🔥 keep it up

[@ChrisLoMusic]

🙏🙏🙏

[@michaelwaskeymusic]

I graduated Berklee in 2005 and was definitely taught this

[@ChrisLoMusic]

Heard. I updated the title so that it implies that it reflects my experience and not everyone's. Thanks for your feedback!

[@564df6g5h4d6f5g4h6d5]

So when was your last concert?

[@andreashofmeyr9583]

I giess i always took this for granted. Cant imagine playing not being able to hear it internally.

[@mollypratt2186]

I am excited to try this new strategy!

[@ChrisLoMusic]

Awesome to hear! Let me know how it goes!

[@PlectrumShorts]

This is a great lesson. I dramatically improved my ear by singing the pentatonic scale while I played it then getting to where I could sing each note before I played it. First in scale order, then more randomly. That was kindergarten. Haha. What you lay out here is several levels above that. Love it!

[@ChrisLoMusic]

Audiating with the pentatonic scale! Love that! Hope these exercises help you build on what you’ve already started!

[@itconqueredtheworldsmith4053]

You entire video is Ear Training 101 and is exactly what they teach in any competent Music School (who are you trying to kid ) .

[@ChrisLoMusic]

I totally agree that audiation is ear training 101 and should be foundational to all ear training practices. I think that it is covered at some schools but it doesn't get the attention and depth of study that it deserves. My video is definitely very elementary but this topic can go much deeper (I hope to explore the topic further in future videos). Besides Hal Galper, I don't hear a lot of instructors taking it to that level.

[@itconqueredtheworldsmith4053]

@@ChrisLoMusic Well I'm sure there are a lot of reasons for that . 1 of them I will tell you (and I know from experience having attended College in the 70s and again in the 90s) is that College curriculums got "dummied up" . what I mean is that College used to be extremely demanding and difficult . Then the Universities became businesses and catered to many more students while lowering their educational standards (to expand profits) . This is what I experienced when I returned to get my MBS after 20 years had passed .

[@AaronPetitPianoTutorials]

Subbed immediately! Great vid. I have called this the "inner signer" for years. And it's very true. Do it and will always play with more conviction!

[@ChrisLoMusic]

It's incredible how much of a difference it makes! The solos where I don't audiate are really bad compared to the ones where I do. Thanks for sharing!

[@Dr.RolyndDellaSylvan]

@ChrisLoMusic I studied and/or have taught jazz and classical at NewEngCnsrvtry, Juilliard, New York University, Berklee, London College of Music, and in Helsinki Finland, Oradea Romania, etc. and they most certainly did and still do, emphasize audiation/inner ear/“hear what you want to play”/“sing what you want to play”/ etc. … and in one legendary & highly effective case they taught “inner ear”/etc. by teaching/learning ear training ONLY by singing & audiation (without theory/rules/etc.). I wish you health and joy. And, many more rapturous musical moments. Dr D

[@ChrisLoMusic]

Thanks for sharing Dr. D! That’s incredible that a school taught purely by ear training. I’m so curious what school that was?

[@Dr.RolyndDellaSylvan]

@@ChrisLoMusic -NewEngCnsrvtry, professor Lyle Davidson taught aural training *without any theory & without rules … we learned by singing and audiation. -I studied jazz with John Scofield, Gil Goldstein, Ralph Lalama (of *the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra) et al. during one of my PhDs at New York University -studied with Bob Brookmeyer, Jerry Bergonzi, Alan Chase, John McNeil, et al. at NewEngCnsrvtry -etc… -those and all the institutions and artists where I studied and taught/teach emphasized audiation/ear training/“hearing what you want to play”/ etc. I work with Grammy winners in the jazz and classical arenas and I’m a touring guest orchestra conductor … and they/we all emphasize those things when we teach. I wish you a fun and rewarding holidays ! -Dr D

[@itconqueredtheworldsmith4053]

Exactly what is this guy trynna pull ?

[@actonblue2012]

I was at Berklee in the 1980s and we did solfege as part of our ear training. This video makes a sweeping statement and more research should be done. Rick Peckham was big on this in his ear training classes.

[@ChrisLoMusic]

@Dr.RolyndDellaSylvan Sounds like you had some really great teachers! (Scofield! I'm so jealous) Well keep it up. Love that you and other instructors are focusing on this. Thanks for sharing and happy holidays!

[@jimkangas4176]

I've seen that Hal Galper video long ago. I know I had a restaurant gig for a quite a while and I would try to audiate various lines as I was driving, and then check when I arrived home to see if I had gotten them right. I should have stuck with that more - it was very useful.

[@ChrisLoMusic]

The Hal Galper video is gold! That's a great exercise and so valuable because you are checking to make sure you were hearing the notes correctly. Thanks for sharing!

[@ewokmoses5909]

This is totally new video to me. But I m so glad I met u today. Cos this is Exactly wat I have been doing for for decades. I m attest how true this video is!!! Excellent

[@ChrisLoMusic]

Thank you!! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ForkySeven]

I went to Drake University and audiation, and singing everything, was a key concept that was all but literally hammered into me.

[@ChrisLoMusic]

Sounds like an amazing school! I should’ve gone there instead!

[@Kolavskaya]

I can hear it in my head, but I still have problems singing Ornithology, particularly at speed (even though I played in on alto sax as a music student - but in a big band, so never had to solo over it), so it gets garbled and I lose track when practising it on my electric bass. I've gotten to Misty and Autumn Leaves. So, let's smash that sub button to fund out more! Gosh, knowing your chord tones (sort of Solfège with gaps 😉) gets you further than most 'ear training' courses and apps. Great video!

[@jjs2082]

Thanks for these ideas! I was practicing ear training this morning and feeling like I wasn't making much progress. I'm going to try screaming in my head more! I needed this tips today!

[@ChrisLoMusic]

Amazing to hear! Ear training is so important. Let me know if any of these exercises are helpful.

[@sallypratt9465]

Great video! Thank you for these helpful exercises.

[@ChrisLoMusic]

You’re welcome! Let me know which exercises work best for you.

[@laughinginthe90s]

Hey, I have been playing instruments on and off since I was ~3yo. Strings->saxophone->keyboard. 27 now, can't intentionally pre-audiate, or remember a line for more than ~20 seconds after I've played it before. For example, looking at notes on a page, I'm unable to make relevant tones in my head, once I mechanically play the notes, there's a ~20 second window where I can repeat the sounds in my head - after that they're gone. No long term memory, no intentional recall. For prepared pieces, it takes an inordinate amount of work, a week practicing something else and It's almost completely impossible to play, even dropping down to 30% tempo. I can't keep more than 1 piece at a competent level at a time. on pieces that I've prepared heavily, there might be audiation happening, but if it is it's very quiet If I physically hum, I'll get the wrong notes initially, (sounds wrong and have to adjust.) this lack of memory seems to put me at a massive disadvantage, and I feel extremely discouraged.

[@ChrisLoMusic]

I'm sorry to hear that you are feeling discouraged. It sounds like it may be useful to work on building a stronger foundational framework for understanding music in your head. What I mean by this is being able to sing a major scale (like I did in the video) and a minor scale with accurate pitch (you can sing the notes and check your pitch on the piano), and have an internal sense of how rhythms relate to the down beat (i.e if you hear a song, can you identify quarter notes, eight notes, etc. in relation to the down beat?). Once you can do these things, it should give a good relational understanding of most simpler forms of music (folk, pop, rock) and will set the foundation for being able to internalize more complex forms of music (jazz, fusion, etc). Also try playing around with all of the exercises in this video. I think they will really help. Let me know if you have any questions and good luck!

[@theokaytokay]

I never knew what I was doing sometimes was caused audiation!

[@ChrisLoMusic]

Now you can put a name to it! Audiate on!

[@Hunter-hr3or]

Thx for these advices im currently building a routines to developp my ear training.

[@ChrisLoMusic]

Great to hear! Hope these are helpful!

[@chasvox2]

Wonderful presentation, young man.....

[@ChrisLoMusic]

Thank you so much!

[@564df6g5h4d6f5g4h6d5]

Top notch 👍

[@ChrisLoMusic]

Thank you!

[@EverybodyBurts]

This is gold. Half of the views of Illusion of an Instrument are from me :D Greetings from Finland

[@ChrisLoMusic]

Yes!! The Illusion of the instrument video is SO good!

[@itconqueredtheworldsmith4053]

So how about that Solfege system huh ? Nice , but there a two different systems taught (or were when I was a lad in school) moveable Do or fixed Do , which do you use and or prefer and most importantly why ? Btw I learned fixed Do and attended U of M go Wolverines !

[@1man1guitarletsgo]

I've never had any formal training and don't read music or tab, but when I improvise a guitar solo, I _always_ hear what I'm about to play, just before doing so. While I'm playing that, the next lick is forming in my head.

[@ChrisLoMusic]

That's such a valuable skill that so many people don't have! I'm sure you are great improviser!

[@1man1guitarletsgo]

@@ChrisLoMusic Thank you. It's a double-edged sword: on the one hand, I can pull licks out of the hat and create solos on the fly, but on the other hand this has possibly led to me not stretching myself to learn a wider variety of styles, and so my solos probably sound repetitive after a while, when I run out of ideas.

[@marshal-d-123]

Ah this is so important! I think the reason why they don’t teach it in school is because it’s not easily testable. And if it’s not super testable to hear what people hear in their heads, then you can’t put a grade to it. That’s where school systems fall short when teaching anything really. Schools aren’t useless, but it’s always good to remember that you shouldn’t learn everything at school as if school is a crutch for an easy way to educate yourself. The more I learn about music, the more I realize that most of it is just spent listening and shaping the grid for the notes in your head. Then after you have that grid where you can accurately hear all the intervals and notes in your head, then you need to spend your time practicing the physical instrument so that your hands, vocal chords, mouth, or whatever know what movements to make that match the sound in your head. Muscle memory on your instrument is super important because of this. Like for example, I play piano, but I have a hard time jumping from large distances of higher to lower notes and being accurate without looking. That’s something I can easily hear in my head, but because my muscle memory is bad for it, I need to practice that physical movement a lot so that I don’t need to think about how I’m placing my hands so that there’s no buffer between what’s in my head and what I play. Also another thing I’ve realized with myself with things I hear in my head is that often I don’t hear a specific melody line or chord, but I can recall a feeling in my head for what those notes feel like. For example, a Major 7th chord has a very distinct happy/sad melancholy feeling to me. So sometimes I’ll just feel the feeling that chord gives me in my head, and I’ll poke around the keyboard until what I play matches that feeling. I see this sort of like how my brain hasn’t quite yet gotten to be accurate enough to know what specific chord or notes those feelings represent, but because I’m at least feeling something, I can still translate it through trial and error. Aaaanyways, my yap session is over. Good video! Probably one of the most important musical concepts ever.

[@ChrisLoMusic]

Wow, I couldn’t have said it better myself!! Totally agree that schools don’t have a good way to assess someone’s internal musical environment and therefore shy away from talking about it. Really good point about needing to have the technical facility to play what you hear. Definitely a crucial part of the process. I can relate to having feelings and emotions associated with different chords and modes. That’s one of things I love most about music. Thanks for sharing all of this!

[@ericgarza9912]

The Improving Musician - Andy Mullen has great lessons on his channel to learn to audiate.

[@ChrisLoMusic]

I'm always on the lookout for great ear training lessons. I'll check that out. Thanks for sharing!

[@jeremiahreilly9739]

Ooh. Scary. Okay. I'll do it.

[@jetarocruz6624]

so there is a term for what im doing. subscribed !

[@ChrisLoMusic]

I know! That’s how I felt as well!

[@johntrotta5375]

You are correct that audiation is a helpful skill to possess. You do not answer your initial question. I shall help you. Music “schools” don’t teach audiation because there is no way to grade it.

[@ChrisLoMusic]

Lol, ya I didn't really answer the question. But I totally agree with that!

[@DrSid42]

I can hear music .. except I hear it wrong. I do for example hear Flight of the bumblbee in 6/8 rhythm. But it's not, it's in 4/4. I hear more notes than there is .. and since it's mostly chromatic scale, I hear more notes that there can be in it. Same with the harmony .. I have good idea without an instrument. I can hear it in different instruments. I can imagine it together with bass, and melody. Often completely wrong though.

[@makinganoise6028]

I know a lot of Pro musicians, some do have a great understanding of theory, can sight read etc, but most tbh, cant read or know much about theory, but they can hear something and play it, recall at a moments notice and just instinctively know what to play, improvise etc, whether its the original solo for example, or be able to do their own thing, maybe its a form autism or just a rare talent, I'm not quite that level but do audiate as you describe it, especially writing songs, I need to be able to hear the singer actually singing that song, I've never understood why Music schools dont work on ear training as a core skill instead of creating robots who can follow dots, I do think theory is more important than dot following, even have an App I wrote on it, that people use, being able to visualize and overlay scales and chords/modes etc, makes them more real, than talking about degrees and intervals. Ear training, then theory, if you do a job that needs it, learn dots, but good ears the most important.

[@ChrisLoMusic]

Love that! Ear training then theory then maybe dots. Good words to live by! It is interesting how some people are seemingly born with the ability to retain massive amounts of musical information in their brain and be able to hear it so clearly on a moment's notice. I do agree that it has to do with talent, but I think those skills can also be developed with practice. The more time you spend intentionally audiating, the louder your internal musical environment will get and the easier it'll be to learn/memorize/recall new musical material. Let me know if any of these exercises help!

[@makinganoise6028]

@ChrisLoMusic they will, thanks Chris, having good ears is so important, very much so for singing, I know some classical singers who can sing to a score, which, again, is another level of skill, but being able to sing acapella to chord charts is as close as I can get to that.

[@ChrisLoMusic]

I know it’s crazy what some people can sing. But sounds like you have a good foundation!

[@makinganoise6028]

@@ChrisLoMusic thanks Chris, I learn everyday, KZbin is an amazing resource, but nothing beats getting out and playing live with musicians who are much better, keeps you grounded and its one of the best ways to learn imho, I think sometimes people forget, its about having fun and also entertaining when you get to that level, tbh, have tried it as a day job, took the fun away and easier ways to make a living.

[@ChrisLoMusic]

I feel you! I also had to take a break from music because I overdid it. Really important to remember that it should be fun! Thanks for that!

[@UnknownUnknown-uq5rv]

Me not being able to audiatemy own ideas is the reason for my writers block. I always stick to few scales and those scales don't reflect my ideas, so i just improvise aimlessly. Also, i always get ideas when i'm NOT at the keyboard for some reason.

[@ChrisLoMusic]

I can totally relate to all of this! When I notice I’m just playing scales I stop playing and listen, and if I don’t hear anything, I start singing, then I try to play what I sing. And when I get random musical ideas I bust out my voice memo app and start singing the idea as best I can so that I can try to figure it out later. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[@NicholasANappiNick]

I heard Eric Clapton talk about hearing the note a mili second before he plays it 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@ChrisLoMusic]

Ooo, I want to find that video! Thanks for sharing!

[@cursedswordsman]

There's a Aimee Noltee video saying this is a false path. Lol. Who tf do you believe

[@xxfranknittyxx2270]

Make since

[@ChrisLoMusic]

Great to hear!

[@xxfranknittyxx2270]

@@ChrisLoMusic I make hip hop beats and I'm trying to learn piano

[@ChrisLoMusic]

I hope this video helps you with both endeavors!

[@ErikBongers]

Well, I can hear melodies in my imagination easily. In fact, I often have a bit of an internal radio of made up music going on. But it's a pain to write them down and I definitely can't play them on the spot. I have to search for the notes. Interval training helps a bit, but after years, I know it's not going to improve. So, this sounds a bit like snake oil to me.

[@ChrisLoMusic]

I hear you! Ya, there is a definitely a barrier between what we can hear and what we can produce on an instrument. If you already have a vidid aural imagination then the next step is to connect those thoughts with your instrument. Can you sing the notes your are hearing in your head? If so, then you can try to find them on your instrument? This might be a little tedious but will definitely improve the translation from musical thought to action.

[@bobsavage3317]

☮

[@amsumalivallaart2805]

Each of the exercises you talked bout them But you didn’t demonstrate You you should have gone for example for exercise 1 here’s how……….. For exercise 2 here’s how……… Etc etc That would have really helped

[@ChrisLoMusic]

That’s great feedback! I’ll make sure that I demonstrate the how for all of my exercises in the future. Thank you!

[@mulajatshungu2859]

Thank you for that response Chris LO

[@RoaldvBl]

Nice video, but you didn’t answer why they don’t teach this in music school. I mean there must be a good reason, right?

[@ChrisLoMusic]

That’s a really good point! It’s hard to say why they don’t teach this in school. My best guess would be that it isn’t super easy to quantify someone’s Audiation ability and give it a grade. I also think it’s hard to come up with and explain exercises that can help you improve it. Like the “Scream Method”, I had never heard of until watching Hal Galper’s somewhat obscure video. Thanks for pointing that out though!

[@michaelanthony9068]

Brilliant. Thank you. Now work…

[@ChrisLoMusic]

Thank you! Ya, got to put in the work. Good luck!

[@timpullen398]

I thought that everyone does this.

[@ChrisLoMusic]

I think many people do, but not to a level where they can hear what they are about to play in their head over the rest of the musicians at the gig. But if you're already there, that's awesome!

[@mgd9151]

Lying about things for views shows a lac of integrity and you need that to be an effective instructor. Not only that, but many ppl have talked about this for decades now.

[@ChrisLoMusic]

I'm not lying. I'm speaking from my experience, but if you feel like the title is misleading, I can change it "why didn't I learn this concept" since that is more specific to my experience.

[@contrabone10]

Anti Berklee click bait- shame on you, cheap ploy.

[@ChrisLoMusic]

I’m not anti-Berklee. I learned a lot of really useful things while I was there. I just was never taught how important audiation is to being a good improviser.

[@andycordy5190]

Because you are supposed to have learned earr training as a basic tool at elementary principles level.

[@ChrisLoMusic]

100% agree. This is totally a foundational concept but many times it is just glossed over. Personally, I'm not a talented musician and had to work hard to develop my ability to audiate. Some people are gifted and can skip this step, but many would benefit from strengthening their audiation foundation before moving on to more advanced concepts.

[@barrybjerke9353]

...if you cant hear it you cant play it huh .... Beethoven's ?

[@ChrisLoMusic]

Beethoven gradually went deaf and by that time in his life he had likely developed a level of audiation that none of us could even dream of having. He was absolutely hearing and composing every note in his head.

[@mikeregan3265]

Mary had a little lamb is a poor example because its a poem, not a song.

[@ChrisLoMusic]

Fair enough!

[@Ultima2876]

Of course it’s a song. Never heard of SRV?

[@barrybjerke9353]

Yes , yes they do...not interested in anything further from you.😊

[@ChrisLoMusic]

I'm glad that you were taught. Sounds good.