Ear training at UNT

[pedro]

Quick question Mr. Seaton. At UNT are students with perfect/absolute pitch exempted from ear training? And if so, how is their ability tested?

[Lynn Seaton]

Hello Pedro,
I sent your question to the Coordinator of Music Theory at UNT. Here is her reply.
"No, APR students are not exempted from ear training.
In fact, most APR students are "lazy listeners" who rely on their APR instead of knowing harmonic function. For this reason, I advise the Theory TF's (and practice in my classes) to play examples in keys transposed from the one in which they are writing. This forces them to truly think about harmonic/melodic relationships. Years later, several students have thanked me for requiring this, when they lose their APR due to injury or age. (I, myself had APR until about 3 years ago.)"


Dr. Joán C. Groom
Coordinator of Music Theory
College of Music
Office #212
University of North Texas

[pedro]

Originally Posted by Lynn Seaton

Hello Pedro,
I sent your question to the Coordinator of Music Theory at UNT. Here is her reply.
"No, APR students are not exempted from ear training.
In fact, most APR students are "lazy listeners" who rely on their APR instead of knowing harmonic function. For this reason, I advise the Theory TF's (and practice in my classes) to play examples in keys transposed from the one in which they are writing. This forces them to truly think about harmonic/melodic relationships. Years later, several students have thanked me for requiring this, when they lose their APR due to injury or age. (I, myself had APR until about 3 years ago.)"


Dr. Joán C. Groom
Coordinator of Music Theory
College of Music
Office #212
University of North Texas

Interesting. What is APR? I assume 'AP' stands for Absolute Pitch but can't get figure out the 'R'? LOL!!

Anyway, I had no idea that one could loose perfect pitch and am not musically educated enough to be able to understand why one would have to train someone who can recognize any pitch. Understanding the relationships between harmony and melody, etc. seems to me a part of a different study - theory or simply being musical.

Anyway, thanks for the answer.

[Lorenzini]

Maybe the R stands for Recognition?

[Lynn Seaton]

Yes, R is for recognition.

[PocketGroove82]

Originally Posted by Lynn Seaton

In fact, most APR students are "lazy listeners" who rely on their APR instead of knowing harmonic function.

Better to be a lazy bassist than a lazy listener!