There are a FEW gifted people, however, that play piano BY EAR. They often can't read music. They had no formal training, or very little. But, they play beautifully.
Originally Posted by glcoach
Just tryin' to get to that level, like every one else here.
I got decent playing by ear, but not near as good as I'm gonna be by learning to do it right.
After paying for a couple of pianos and no telling how many lessons for my kids over a period of twenty years or so -- and never touching a key -- I finally decided in my early-fifties to take the plunge myelf.
Not for me the 'tried and true' way to Classical Triumph. No. I wanted to make music now. And I did, as I will explain. Ultimately, I did learn to read music. Better in treble cleff than bass, but learn it I did. But in the meantime...
On purpose, I learned the Big Picture...
On purpose, I learned how music worked. Not just to regurgitate the written page, but how it worked and why it worked.
And, on purpose, I learned chords.
My teacher -- who I met at the Interational Association of Jazz Educators in New Orleans as I 'scoped things out' -- insisted I learn the nine different qualities of chords -- in each of the twelve keys. These ranged from major to diminished with all the minors and 5ths, 6ths and 7ths in between. And not only just to memorize them...
But to know them.
As evidenced by being able to play them throughout the twelve keys.
Simultaneously in both hands.
Five-fingered chords...
At a metronome beat set to one per second.
108 Chords. 108 seconds.
Well, all righty then!
...
And now I play the piano.
Not great, you understand...
But respectable.
And it is music.
Music that I enjoy.
Music that I play...
Myself.
Hum something -- best of all, even make up something -- and I will play it for you.
You will hear your own music, and you will delight in it.
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