So how do we exactly teach? We use fake
sheets, lead sheets or chord charts. These
are essentials most musicians rely on.

This is an example of a very simple fake
sheet of the song "Amazing Grace".
A fake sheet like the one above, consists of only two elements in a song:    1) Melody line (Right hand - Single note)              2) Chords

These two elements are all a musician needs to improvise and rearrange the song in any style instantly.

However, this begs the question, "Why do you need scores when you are supposed to play by ear?"

The answer is simple.  We play by ear, not by memory.  Yes, if we do know the tune already, we can make up the tune and chords in our head and
play by ear without anything written down.  But, there are millions of songs in the market, and we can't possibly remember the nuances of every
song.  Thus, we rely on fake sheets (which are widely available in bookshops) to understand how the tune of the song sounds like, so as to enable
us to play and improvise from there.

And besides, we can't possibly teach without anything written down.  Imagine if we have to teach strictly by ear, with a blank piece of paper,
nothing written down. How will the student ever remember the tune that was been taught during class?  The fake sheet, at the very least, serves as
a reference to allow the student to remember the song when they get home.

Then there is another common question. "But aren't you suppose to teach us how to listen and then play?"

Yes, at a much later stage after you are successfully able to improvise. But, chances are, by the time you are able to improvise any song freely to
the extent that you are able to compose a tune instantly, you would have a great understanding of how a melody works with a chord progression.
By the time, you should already be able to listen to a song by play by ear, by yourself. To understand why improvisation helps in listening, read the
previous page.

And of course, there is the last usual question, "So you mean, I have to read notes?"

If you can already read notes, it is to your advantage.  But, if you can't read notes, and do not wish to learn musical notation, we don't have a issue
with that. We understand that many people dislike reading notes, and it is one of the primary reason why many have given up music.  Well, not to
worry.  Firstly, fake sheets (that we use in our teaching) are very different from traditional score sheets which consist of 2 hands and have chunks
of notes to read.  Fake sheets are much easier to follow.  And creativity is involved here, where your left and right hands are free to play everything
beyond the fake sheet. Remember, the fake sheet only gives you an idea of what the song sounds like.
For more information on what 'Play By Ear' is about, please call us at 63387939 for a demonstration. Also check out some of our partners below!
A article titled: Playing by ear a Gift?
Talent? Or What?
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WHAT IS PLAY BY EAR?
(Page 3/3)
Instructor playing the piano!
If you choose not to read notes, the least you
have to know are music alphabets.
Nevertheless, you will still be given a fake
sheet (with proper music notation), and the
music alphabets will be written below every
music notation on the fake sheet itself.
PLAY BY EAR MUSIC SCHOOL  (SINGAPORE) - SPECIALISING IN POP PIANO & JAZZ PIANO IMPROVISATION COURSES FOR ADULTS
ADDRESS: 245A / 245B VICTORIA STREET, BUGIS VILLAGE, SINGAPORE (188032) | TEL: 63387939 | EMAIL: INFO@PLAY-BY-EAR.NET