Everyone learns a little bit differently – some people like to read books, some people enjoy lectures or videos, and others prefer to learn simply by doing things. Whatever your learning style may be, you can learn how to play the piano.
But how exactly do you play to your strengths? Is one mode better than others? This blog will discuss aural, visual, and kinesthetic learning.
If you are looking into piano lessons in Brooklyn, we hope you’ll get in touch. We’d love to hear from you.
Can You Learn the Piano Aurally (Playing by Ear)?
Yes, you can learn the piano by ear. Music is an aural art by nature, so as long as you can play pleasing music, you don’t necessarily have to engage with anything visual.
You can listen to tunes on Youtube and simply reproduce them on the keyboard, or you can learn to harmonize by learning the notes on the piano, learning how to play keys, and then experimenting with different accompaniments underneath a melody line (usually in your right hand).
Many jazz musicians play solely by ear. They learn all of the songs in the book, learn all of the jazz scales and modes by ear, and then learn how to reproduce those sounds on the piano.
What About Learning the Piano Visually?
If you want to play classical music or work as a collaborative pianist, you will need to be able to read music. Same for session musicians – you will need to be able to read lead sheets and such.
Let’s take intervals, for instance:
An aural learner could listen to a teacher play a major third, then replicate that sound on the piano. The pianist could follow the same steps for half steps, fifths, octaves, and more.
A visual learner may prefer to see an interval written on the musical staff, then played by a teacher. A visual learner will remember what the notation looks like, and what his teacher’s hands look like when playing.
How Does Kinesthetic, or Tactile Learning Fit In?
Whether you are a visual or auditory learner, you will eventually need to learn how various actions feel on the keyboard. It’s always best to embed techniques in your mind slowly. If you are practicing a scale, you can:
- Listen to the scale first so you know how it sounds
- Watch your teacher, or a performer online, play the scale
- Memorize the fingerings by rote or with flashcards
- THEN slowly play the first half of the scale, then the second half, then all together
- Repeat the playing action, only gradually increasing the speed
In Summary: Learning Music By Ear Vs. Visual Learning
Every well-rounded musician needs to combine visual and aural learning. To be a high level pianist, you will want to be able to read music, and if you want to play the piano in many commercial or contemporary settings, you’ll need to play by ear.
For questions about our Brooklyn music lessons, voice lessons in Brooklyn, or anything else, please get in touch.
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