Formal Training Vs. Playing by Ear


Who's to say that someone with formal training can not play by ear? If someone has had "formal training" and they can not play by ear, I say they're training is very incomplete. Ear training, interval recognition, melodic and rhythmic dictation, chord progressions,
transposition, transcription, sight singing (solfege) and improvisation are all part of a complete music education. If your only formal training was learning written pieces, you need to go further. Personally,I believe since music is an aural art form, one should stat with ear training long before they even learn to read music notation.

I believe learning music is much like learning a language. Does one learn to speak their native tongue with a book and list of written words? No, first the child spends a few years listening to their parents and other people speaking, then the child may start saying words, then more complete sentences. By the time the child is ready to read, he or she can hold a conversation and understand most of what is said. I believe music should be taught in a similar manner.