Playing the saxophone Learn to play by ear or by reading music

[progger]

In my part time job of advocating for Mr D Evil, whilst I entirely agree with your post, I’m not sure about the definition of “ear player” in the title has been used for this purpose much of the time. I think that most have taken it to be with regard to improvising or learning (by ear) specific notes.

No ?

I'm honestly having a hard time understanding what you mean here!

 

[PigSquealer]

Geez just shoot me, insert a skewer, apply heat and feed me an apple ! Flame on 🔥

I found out I was tone deaf in ‘82 failing a Airforce physical. I already had a pilots license.
I can’t read dots just like @LostCircuits….a PhD of molecular neuroscience.

Shut up and play to enjoy what you can. Just be open to direction from others, your true supporting friends.
Everyone that helps with honest kindness wants you to achieve your very best.

Anyone seen the movie “Mr. Hollands Opus” ?

 

[Pete Effamy]

I'm honestly having a hard time understanding what you mean here!

Devil’s advocate.
I mean that many people in the thread take “ear player” just to mean that say, a tune is learned by ear rather than by reading it.

You’re saying that it’s “aural skills “ and they’re of absolute importance anyway (to which I agree), but I’m not sure people have been talking about the holistic viewpoint.

 

[Zasterz]

Devil’s advocate.
I mean that many people in the thread take “ear player” just to mean that say, a tune is learned by ear rather than by reading it.

You’re saying that it’s “aural skills “ and they’re of absolute importance anyway (to which I agree), but I’m not sure people have been talking about the holistic viewpoint.

It’s so strange to me this whole either/or thinking when everyone already spends so many hours reading and writing— participating on this forum here, for example! Reading isn’t just “visual”— you hear words in your head as you read and write, you have cadences, rhythms beyond just the font on a screen or a page. It’s exactly the same thing happening. Most people just read music less frequently so it’s less fluent.

 

[cappers]

Yes I agree @skeller047 and as I said:

As a novice, I doubt I would have made much progress if I hadn't learnt to read and just tried to play by ear. However learning to read plus some background theory has given me enough 'musicality' to understand what I'm trying to achieve.

Obviously some prefer reading and expressing what's written, others not. I want to be able to do both as I need to be able to read to play in the band, but there are times when I'd like the 'freedom' of playing by ear. Not one or the other, horse for courses.

 

[Pete Effamy]

Yes I agree @skeller047 and as I said:

Obviously some prefer reading and expressing what's written, others not. I want to be able to do both as I need to be able to read to play in the band, but there are times when I'd like the 'freedom' of playing by ear. Not one or the other, horse for courses.

But, as others have alluded to, there’s interpretation that is required of a player beyond what can be indicated on a written part. Written music isn’t a straight jacket. Call this “using your ears”, or whatever really.
The “other times” that you want freedom - you mean improvisation? Or playing a designated part but fiddling with it as befitting the music? Yes, players reading from a part will clock when that’s correct and do similar.

 

[cappers]

But, as others have alluded to, there’s interpretation that is required of a player beyond what can be indicated on a written part. Written music isn’t a straight jacket. Call this “using your ears”, or whatever really.

That's what I was alluding to. Interpretation and individual expression of the written notes.

 

[JSL]

Along those lines, I've long said the most important scale is the chromatic one.

+1. Important and absolutely essential.

 

[turf3]

There seems to be a stereotype held by some who can't read music that when you start looking at printed music your ears slam closed making you stone deaf, and simultaneously you lose all volition and ability to do different things with the instrument.

Some of those who can't play without written music seem to feel that if they just play some stuff, that upon the first clam or bum note they will experience spontaneous human combustion not even leaving a grease spot behind.

Neither of these exaggerations is true, of course, and the truth is that an enormous number of people can read music fluently, play by ear effectively, and do the various things between too. As I pointed out before, some things I and others do include:

Reading down the head of a tune from a lead sheet, then stepping away to play solos and backgrounds;

Playing while looking at written chord symbols;

Looking at a printed lead sheet but using ears to deviate from it in improvised fashion;

Looking at written directions of the sort "like Rhythm changes but 12 bar blues for the bridge";

Playing written music in an ensemble and following a conductor's directions on tempo, dynamics that are dramatically different than the printed music including jumps and cuts from one section to another...

All of these are a sort of "reading music" and none of them conforms to this stereotype of the unthinking trained seal reading musician that just pushed the buttons.

Of course, there are people who have vision issues, or who have issues in visual processing. They have to work out methods. that'll work for them. That's not what we're talking about here.

 

[cappers]

This discussion is reflected in an article in today's Guardian ......more to do with classical v folk but still relevant.

Know the score? I don’t read music, but that’s no hindrance to reimagining great classical works

 

[Pete Effamy]

The article states that people like Paul McCartney were never held back by not being able to read music. He wasn’t, if you ignore what George Martin did for the Beatles. And of course, when McCartney wanted to write his classical piece and he had to dictate it.

As was said a month ago or so, it’s not a hindrance until you step into a world where it is.

Same goes for no ear / improvisation ability. Menuhin had all his parts written for him in his collaboration with Grappelli; and similar examples.