By Ear or By Note?

Monday, May 18, 2009

]

There are two ways of producing good sounding music: singing and playing by "ear," or singing and playing by reading music notation. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages.

It seems the majority of music teachers train their students to sing and play by note exclusively. This is unfortunate, because many classically trained musicians lack that great natural sense of music and harmony exhibited by those who perform by ear.

I believe the best musicians are able to perform using both methods, and can do both simultaneously. A musician who scorns either of these methods limits himself in many ways.

By Ear

Pros:

Great sense of harmony and harmonic progressions

Performs smoothly

Fewer mistakes

Better in tune

More natural performance

Greater sensitivity to others in the ensemble

Seem to enjoy music more

Cons:

Music tends be more fleshly

Performance can have more distractions (slides, scoops, etc.)

Unusual performance techniques

Limited to their own musical creativity

Unable to communicate with other musicians about music

By Note

Pros:

Picks up new music immediately

Can utilize wider ranges of expression

Quickly learns from better musicians

Not limited to their own music theory knowledge

Better able to communicate with others about music

Cons:

More tied down to the written notation

More apt to make major mistakes

Tends to perform with less feeling

Tends to be more of an intellectual exercise

Add a Comment

NEW BLOGS POSTED EVERY MONDAY

The BLOG is now a BOOK!
Notes for the Children of Asaph: The Book

Download the E-Book

Curtis Hollembeak

Curtis holds a bachelor's degree in Bible with a music minor, as well as a master's degree in Sacred Music, having studied under Dr. Frank Garlock, president of Majesty Music, and Ray and Ann Gibbs, well-known Christian singers. He has served as music director and jr. high/high school supervisor at Grace Baptist Church of Mankato, Minnesota; school music director at the Franklin Road Christian School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee; media engineer for the Sword of the Lord in Murfreesboro, Tennessee; and, full-time music director at Second Baptist Church and Twin City Christian Academy in Festus, Missouri. He is currently self-employed and serves in the music ministry of the Berean Baptist Church in Rockford, IL. Curtis is co-founder and President of the Asaph Music Co. He regularly sings bass with the Bible Truth Chorale on recordings produced by Bible Truth Music at Faith Music Missions.