Why do some pianists struggle to play by ear?

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In this video we explore what it means to play by ear. As it turns out, this is a skill that can be cultivated just like any other skill in life. I myself am a terrible cook while my husband can easily improvise a home made dinner with whatever ingredients we have in the house; does this mean I could never cook a meal from scratch? Not at all - I just need a different approach, a different training, and more experience messing things up. Same thing with music - while some pianists seem to have an innate gift to play by ear (hint: their brains are actually wired differently - could be ADHD or ASD), others simply need a DIFFERENT learning method, one that works with the way THEIR brain understands music.
In talking to many classically trained pianists, I noticed that each and everyone of them had a different definition of what it means to play by ear. To some, playing by ear meant the ability to sit at the piano and "noodle around" (think: background music for a dinner party). To others, playing by ear meant writing their own compositions from scratch. To others, it meant deciphering chord charts at church.
So what if everyone has a different definition of what it means to play by ear? After all, music is such a vast, complex universe, it's natural that everyone has a different experience with music. And that's FINE! However, the problem then occurs when these pianists are looking for RESOURCES to help them grow in that specific area. Their definitions and the available resources will always be mismatched in the absence of concrete terminology. What if someone who wants to grow as a composer looks up "How to learn to play by ear" only to find resources on deciphering chord charts? Imagine the level of frustration one experiences when the results DON'T MATCH their needs! And since the industry hasn't yet figured out concrete terminology on what it means to play by ear, we are stuck... Or perhaps we aren't! We may be stuck with less-than-perfect terminology, but at least now we KNOW better! Next time you look up resources on "how to play by ear" read their description and see if the content matches your specific need.
Hi, I'm Raluca and I'm a Romanian Christian pianist. I'm a performer, teacher, composer, arranger, hymn writer. My mission is to keep hymns alive through my piano arrangements AND to help classically trained pianists become CONFIDENT church pianists. This video is part of a larger series on how to improvise at the piano. Be sure to SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss future tutorials!
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[@RalucaBojor]

Check out more video tutorials on what it means to play piano by ear - th-cam.com/play/PL0KiGhENCBV8ycEXHoGLlbd7pU-R58dzu.html&si=eaDcAKBPJg0MakYS

[@mr_etoiles]

Clear and simple! Subbed.

[@RalucaBojor]

I'm so glad you enjoyed the video 🙂

[@MotifMusicStudios]

Great tips and ways for players to explore musical choices and creative possibilities!

[@MotifMusicStudios]

Love that you address how the perception of "playing by ear" is so different for everyone! Really great ponders. Great video!

[@RalucaBojor]

Thank you 😊

[@RalucaBojor]

I appreciate you taking the time to watch the video 🙏🙃

[@edwardhenderson3580]

I appreciate you clearing things up about playing by ear. I play, but not by ear as much as sight reading . I thought something was wrong with me, but you clarified it, and I am grateful to you. Bless you. Edward Henderson

[@RalucaBojor]

@@edwardhenderson3580 Anything can be learned with the right kind of training and support 😉