Hi,

I've just started playing piano on my own, and I was wondering if it's a good idea to forget all about the musical notation and just figure the music out by ear.

Is this a good idea? Or does it take way too much time to benefit from this?

What do you guys think? Learning notes and gradually learn by ear, or just focussing on learning by ear.

Thanks in advance

I always think it's a good idea to learn how to speak a language before learning how to write it. Plus, it really depends on what your goal(s) are.

Do you want to play from fakebooks? Playing by ear is the way to go. Although it's good to be able to read the treble clef. Do you want to play the classics? Note reading is a must here.

RanzieManzie, I agree with Eweiss. You need some basic understanding otherwise you will roam aimlessly from pillar to post - like I did.

I have around two years of formal lessons under my belt and NOW I can decide what path to take next!

I've never met anyone who only played by ear who did not say that he wished he had learned to read.

I've heard the same thing from people who only read the treble clef.

So not learning to read music is a handicap.

However, there are people who read very well but who can't play by ear or improvise. To me they have missed out on the other half of making music.

Playing by ear, playing from music, I see them two abilities that help make a complete musician.

What you say is very interesting, Gary. I do have a sister who only plays by ear but she is interested in popular music not classical. She amazes me because I cannot play by ear and she learned to do so very young. But then I am learning to play piano much, much later in life. I'm really enjoying the music I'm working on and so challenged by it that I just don't have time to try to play by ear. I'm wondering if you do pick this up over time -- or do you have to try to learn to play by ear?

nan,
unfortunately, you can't do it all at once. That kind of smorgasbord learning will make you a jack of all trades, master of none. I recommend learning to do one thing well, until you get it under your belt, before trying another thing. However, you can always be improvising. This is great for doing things by ear. Also, you can try to pick out melodies by ear, like happy birthday and other familiar tunes. Sing along as you play them so that you can try and match the pitch. At first this sort of thing is a hunt-and-peck, but you get better the more you do it. This won't take away time from your other practicing, and will help prepare you for when you've gotten used to reading notes and can spend more time on doing stuff by ear or lead sheet.

Even when you play from sheet music, your performance will be influenced (perhaps subconsciously) by other performances of that piece you've heard, in terms of rubato, etc. So a good ear is important either way, because it allows you to judge your playing in relation to professional recordings. (That's why I would recommend always taping part of the practice sessions, right from the start. Programs like Audacity make this extremely easy.)

I prefer to use sheet music, but now and then I try to play e.g. a theme from TV or a movie by ear. Hopefully I will get better at figuring out chords...