The education of the musical ear requires techniques, exercises and other knowledge to improve the execution, composition and analysis of the musical activity.
The perception of the melodic element of music causes various affective-emotional reactions. As we gain more musical experience, we develop an understanding of melody, made up of a certain interval, tone, measure or rhythm, etc. The education of the musical ear is one of the keys to a true music training. To achieve conscious mastery of musical language, the development of certain skills is required that provide a solid auditory training. As Elena Berrón Ruiz, a professor at the Segovia Professional Conservatory of Music, indicates, all musical learning is linked to the global education of the ear.
What does it mean to have a musical ear?
According to the musician and educator Edgar Willems, having a musical ear means possessing "the ability to understand aurally all the elements that constitute musical discourse". This ability can be educated and, in fact, as indicated by Professor Josefina Alborés Núñez from the Vigo Conservatory of Music, auditory training is an essential task that accompanies the musician throughout his life and depends on specific pedagogical methods. as well as his own professional experience.
Auditory acuity develops in two different and complementary ways: on the one hand, that consisting of differentiate sounds, taken successively, and, on the other hand, the one based on the perception of simultaneous sounds. In the exercises of the first category, it is possible to distinguish between the sensation of "sound movement" and that of "height" of the sound (low-high, low-high).
In those of the second category, one trains to perceive simultaneities of various consonant and dissonant sounds, learning to dissociate the sounds united in a chord or in an "aggregate". These exercises are fundamental not only for the sensory development of the ear, but also for the acquisition of sound mental awareness.
How to take a musical ear test
Harvard University has created an online test to scientifically check if we have a good musical ear. The test lasts 10 minutes and is suitable for any age. It is based on the exploration of the auditory capacity regarding the recognition and distinction of musical tones and rhythms. In addition, the test makes it possible to detect if a person suffers from amusia, a pathology that affects the perception of music. You can take this musical ear test this article.
Ear training exercises
The practical application of the pedagogical principles of a discipline does not depend only on a correct theoretical understanding. Artistic teaching is clear proof of this. In the specific case of music, sound and instruments performpeñan a main role, so the proper use of these elements will determine the education of the musical ear.
To develop hearing, multiple and varied materials can be used: from objects that can be purchased in toy stores (trumpets, whistles, flutes, xylophones, etc.) or music stores, to those that do not require any expense and They can be found in everyday life (glasses, porcelain or clay bowls, spoons and forks, thick nails, metal boxes, coins, etc.) or in nature (reeds, reeds, tree branches, coconuts, etc.).
Before methodically training hearing from the musical point of view, that is, the ability to discriminate the pitch of sound, initiation or verification exercises referring to hearing in general can be carried out.
Exercises referring to the nature of the sound object:
- Recognize objects that have been struck or touched, wrinkled, torn, etc.
- Recognize objects that have been dropped.
- In a group of familiar people, guess who has uttered a word (easy level), or who has sung or shouted (more difficult level).
Exercises referring to the direction and distance of a sound object:
- A person hits a surface (floor, wall, etc.) in a certain place so that the other can pinpoint it.
- A rattle or bell is shaken near a wall or next to the floor at a certain point. The point must be marked.
- A sound object (for example, a clock) moves in space (spiral, zig zag). Movement should be imitated.
- Guess if a person who sings walking at the end of a room goes from left to right or vice versa.
These exercises allow a general control of the ear and serve as preparation for listening concentration. You can learn more practical activities in the book musical ear by Edgar Willems, focused on the auditory preparation of children.
For those who wish to delve into the subject from a more advanced level, you can consult the book by the German composer and musicologist Clemens Kükn, The musical training of the ear.
