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Musicians

JDPriestly

(57,936 posts)

3. Started playing by ear when I was four.

Reply to onpatrol98 (Original post)

Fri Dec 23, 2011, 05:16 AM

Dec 2011

My sister's piano teacher caught me at it and insisted I have lessons.

So, I started playing when I was four. I taught private lessons for a few years and played and played.

But in recent years I haven't played much. Now I am getting back into it and loving it.

But, I find I really enjoy playing by ear -- something I could not do for many years.

It's as if I am regaining the ability to play what I hear that was sort of scolded out of me when I was young.

Strange experience. I was always able to hear melodies and play them very, very easily, but now I hear and can play the harmonies, the chords, everything. Quite interesting. Shows that education can sometimes have a bad, narrowing effect. It can develop talent, but also discourage it.

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I have been playing the piano for a few years...not long. [View all] onpatrol98 Dec 2011 OP

Several years ago I decided to make a switch from reading music to playing by ear. enough Dec 2011 #1

I learned by ear first. iscooterliberally Dec 2011 #2

Started playing by ear when I was four. JDPriestly Dec 2011 #3

That's what I want to do... onpatrol98 Dec 2011 #4

Couple of ideas. Try singing in harmony. JDPriestly Dec 2011 #5

Thanks! onpatrol98 Dec 2011 #6