Can Everyone Develop a Talent for Playing Piano By Ear?

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When I was young, I never played a piano before. My mom played beetoven, and I was able to play most of it without playing a piano before. I was able to play any tune, (zelda theme, the anthem) 'by ear', meaning I can figure out the notes without reading the music.

Is this anything to cherish? Can everyone do this?
 
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QuantumTheory said:
When I was young, I never played a piano before. My mom played beetoven, and I was able to play most of it without playing a piano before. I was able to play any tune, (zelda theme, the anthem) 'by ear', meaning I can figure out the notes without reading the music.

What pieces of Beethoven could you play from the first time ?

Beware that you might be playing them all wrong, but you THINK you are doing it correctly. Has a real professional ever judged you ?

Is this anything to cherish?

No, because you are NOT gifted at playing the piano, you only think you are.

Sorry
Can everyone do this?
Yes, everyone can suck at playing the piano.
I would conclude by saying : nil nove sub sole


regards and a happy newyear

marlon
 
marlon said:
What pieces of Beethoven could you play from the first time ?
Beware that you might be playing them all wrong, but you THINK you are doing it correctly. Has a real professional ever judged you ?
No, because you are NOT gifted at playing the piano, you only think you are.
Sorry
Yes, everyone can suck at playing the piano.
I would conclude by saying : nil nove sub sole
regards and a happy newyear
marlon

Not everyone can repeat songs by hear. Yes, I am doing them correctly.
 
QuantumTheory said:
Not everyone can repeat songs by hear.
Well if you give me this answer, than why asking the questions in your first post ?


Yes, I am doing them correctly.
How do you know ? Who judged you ?


marlon

PS : you did not answer my question : what pieces of Beethoven do you play ?
 
If you are indeed playing Beethoven songs by ear, then yes, you are talented. And yes, you should certainly foster and cherish that talent.
 
Thank you maxwell, I will continue practicing.

I have an 'ear' for many songs.
 
QuantumTheory said:
Nice guy..

Thanks, i know...

So how 'bout givin' a nice guy some answers hmm ?

In case you already forgot the question : What Beethoven pieces do you play ?

marlon
 
Maxwell said:
If you are indeed playing Beethoven songs by ear, then yes, you are talented.

This is true but shouldn't we be a bit more critical for this "new Maurizio Pollini" ? He does not even know what pieces he is playing. How is he certain that he is actually playing Beethoven ?

regards
marlon
 
Not sure of the name. I think, beethovens sympany.

one of them
 
marlon said:
This is true but shouldn't we be a bit more critical for this "new Maurizio Pollini" ? He does not even know what pieces he is playing. How is he certain that he is actually playing Beethoven ?
regards
marlon

Well, realistically he's probably not able to play entire Beethoven pieces without any formal training. Perhaps he's had some indirect training through his mother, or something like that.

Anyway, I'm not hiring him to play any gigs, so I'm not really worried if he can or can't play like he says he can. I just figured I'd answer his question theoretically.
 
Maxwell said:
I just figured I'd answer his question theoretically.
:smile: Great answer.

Thanks for responding to my remark

regards
marlon
 
Why don't you record yourself playing then play it against a professional recording and see how the two compare?

If you enjoy it, then do it.
 
Well it all depends, if you are playing the right notes, are you playing ALL the notes that are present at any given time? Also, are you playing slower than the song or just at the same tempo? Try to find out which song you played and what part of it.EDIT:
Evo said:
Why don't you record yourself playing then play it against a professional recording and see how the two compare?

If you enjoy it, then do it.

Yes, that's what I was thinking as well, since it would explain my above questions.

EDIT2: I'm asking which song, because some songs are easy to play (such as moonlight sonata).
 
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Forget it, ok. I have more important things to do than worry about whato ther people think about me. I know I'm talented, that's all that matters.

I heard my mom playing beehoven, so i was able to play most of the song by hear. She also taught me some of it.

I"m able to play any song by hear, with only the white keys. I can do some songs by hear using the black ones. (i.e beehoven)

I can play any song (except really complex ones) with no training.
 
QuantumTheory said:
Not sure of the name. I think, beethovens sympany.
one of them

Ii is quite impossible to play Beethoven's symphonies on piano. Especially if you had no training because these pieces of music are very complicated.

marlon
 
marlon said:
Ii is quite impossible to play Beethoven's symphonies on piano. Especially if you had no training because these pieces of music are very complicated.
marlon

Yeah, that's my point too. If you are JUST playing the "main" keys which you hear, than you are not truly playing it. Some are just awfully complicated...
 
(Zelda theme, the anthem)

Sorry, I wouldn't exactly call playing that 'talent.' Playing Beethoven is one thing, playing it 'correctly' is entirely another. You may know the notes, but a true professional will have the timing correct to a T. If you can do that, which I HIGHLY doubt, then yes, you are GOOD. This is why classical music weeds out the good from the great. In something like Jazz you can afford to make slip ups and not affect the piece. In classical music, one slip up and your playing a different note from the rest of the entire orchestra, who are playing the note you should be playing. And timing is CRITICAL .
 
marlon said:
Ii is quite impossible to play Beethoven's symphonies on piano. Especially if you had no training because these pieces of music are very complicated.
marlon

I was listening to my mom play a little bit and picked up by ear what she played. I'm just learning. It's kind of fun.
 
QuantumTheory said:
Forget it, ok. I have more important things to do than worry about whato ther people think about me.
:smile:
Then, why bring it up ? Clearly you had the time to do that:smile: :rolleyes:

I know I'm talented, that's all that matters.

Beethoven also used to speak these words, so maybe you have a chance here. What is your repertoire ?

I heard my mom playing beehoven,
Great reference
:approve:
so i was able to play most of the song by hear.
I don't get this implication

She also taught me some of it.
Before or after you played it from one hearing only ?

I can do some songs by hear using the black ones. (i.e beehoven)
:smile: :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile:
So you play Beethoven only using crosses and si-b molls...This must sound like true perfection. Let's just be glad that Beethoven has been dead for almost 200 years now.

regards
marlon
 
QT:

As a fellow pianist, I feel that you have an advantage in that you might have, or you might be able to develop, "perfect pitch." This is a desireable natural ability to determine exactly what note is beig played. You either have it or you don't. I do not. So consequently, even though I can hear the piece of music in my head, I cannot figure out (without labored trial and error) which notes to hit on the keyboard.

I had one friend in college who was just like that. He played guitar. He could pick up any guitar, strum it once (open), and tweak all six pegs in about five seconds to put all strings in perfect tune. While I knew him he had been a member of five different bands, totally different styles from jazz to hardcore punk.

So, its a natural talent to take advantage of. Use it for your own enjoyment; or practice a bit and entertain friends at parties; or practice a lot and be a serious musician.
 
Dan Dan Dan Dunnnnnnnnnnnn...Dan Dan Dan Dunnnnnnnnnnn...
 
Chi Meson said:
QT:

As a fellow pianist, I feel that you have an advantage in that you might have, or you might be able to develop, "perfect pitch." This is a desireable natural ability to determine exactly what note is beig played. You either have it or you don't. I do not. So consequently, even though I can hear the piece of music in my head, I cannot figure out (without labored trial and error) which notes to hit on the keyboard.

I had one friend in college who was just like that. He played guitar. He could pick up any guitar, strum it once (open), and tweak all six pegs in about five seconds to put all strings in perfect tune. While I knew him he had been a member of five different bands, totally different styles from jazz to hardcore punk.

So, its a natural talent to take advantage of. Use it for your own enjoyment; or practice a bit and entertain friends at parties; or practice a lot and be a serious musician.

Thanks so much. It's nice to have a positive comment. I never said I was an expert, and I did take piano lessons (ALONG TIME AGO, WHEN I WAS 7) While most people it takes along time to play a song by trial and error, I can do it quickly, even without playing it before or reading the music!

There are 2 ways to play songs. The simple way (i.e white keys) or very complex with chords. It would be very difficult to play very complex songs by hear, very, very, very few people can do this.

All I was saying is thta do I have a talent because I can do this.

I think so.

I did take piano lessons for several weeks, but I could never cordinate my left hand with my right, needless to say, it was difficult!

I LOVE classical music, I listen to it all the time! It is so beautiful! (I'm 17)

Yes, I think i have good pitch as well. In any song, its easy for me as well to figure out the higher and lower notes (on each note)
 
Im sorry QT, this girl is 3 and cleans your clock!

http://www.wimp.com/child/

Awww, she's so cute. I want to sqeeze her until she explodes.
 
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cyrusabdollahi said:
Sorry, I wouldn't exactly call playing that 'talent.' Playing Beethoven is one thing, playing it 'correctly' is entirely another. You may know the notes, but a true professional will have the timing correct to a T. If you can do that, which I HIGHLY doubt, then yes, you are GOOD. This is why classical music weeds out the good from the great. In something like Jazz you can afford to make slip ups and not affect the piece. In classical music, one slip up and your playing a different note from the rest of the entire orchestra, who are playing the note you should be playing. And timing is CRITICAL .

No, I cannot play the whole beehoven songs with all the chords. I cannot play any songs (except some of the beehoven ones I've memorized) with any chords. What I'm tryng to say is I can pick up on songs easily, and reproduce them effortly with no cords, with no trial and error.

My timing is very good as well.
 
cyrusabdollahi said:
Dan Dan Dan Dunnnnnnnnnnnn...Dan Dan Dan Dunnnnnnnnnnn...

:smile:

As QT will certainly agree on, it's

SOL SOL SOL MI... FA FA FA RE...


marlon
 
cyrusabdollahi said:
Im sorry QT, this girl is 3 and cleans your clock!
http://www.wimp.com/child/
Awww, she's so cute. I want to sqeeze her until she explodes.

Hmm, I don't care. Thanks though, that japanese is helpful (even though i undertsand most of it, i am learning japanese , want to become a linquistic possibly)
 
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No, I cannot play the whole beehoven songs with all the chords.
then you can't play the song. You can play part of the song. There is a big difference. I am sure she can teach you english and jappense too, smart little girl!
 
QuantumTheory said:
(even though i undertsand most of it,

:smile:

WOW, a linguistic prodigy as well...

:approve:

marlon
 
QuantumTheory said:
(I'm 17)
:rolleyes:

I think that says it all.

I am off...i don't have time for this because i am working on my 10th symphony. It will be finished in about 2 minutes...How good am I ?

:smile:
marlon