Can Everyone Develop a Talent for Playing Piano By Ear?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the ability to play the piano by ear, particularly focusing on whether this skill is a talent that can be developed by everyone. Participants explore personal experiences, the nature of musical talent, and the implications of playing pieces without formal training.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants share personal anecdotes about playing music by ear, suggesting that they can replicate tunes without formal training.
  • Others question the validity of these claims, arguing that without professional validation, one cannot be certain of their ability to play correctly.
  • Concerns are raised about the complexity of Beethoven's works, with some asserting that it is nearly impossible to play them accurately without training.
  • There are differing views on whether everyone has the potential to develop the ability to play by ear, with some asserting that not everyone can do it while others believe it is a skill that can be cultivated.
  • Participants discuss the concept of "perfect pitch" and its role in playing music by ear, with some suggesting it is a natural talent that not everyone possesses.
  • Some express skepticism about the quality of playing if it is based solely on hearing without understanding the music theory or structure.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on whether everyone can develop the talent to play piano by ear. There are multiple competing views regarding the nature of musical talent, the validity of personal claims, and the complexity of the pieces being discussed.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about their own abilities and the accuracy of their playing, while others emphasize the importance of professional judgment in assessing musical talent. The discussion reflects a range of assumptions about musical training and innate ability.

  • #61
TheStatutoryApe said:
Yes Marlon was a bit of a jerk.

I think you are a hughe jerk for calling me a bit of a jerk.

Pfff, i am leaving these forums...

marlon:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:
 
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  • #62
zeronem said:
Then here's a list of things you can and cannot do:
1. You can't do physics.
2. You can't be a rock star.
3. you can't do that or this.(Whatever that may be)
4. You cannot open doors anymore with your hands.
5. You can open doors using your feet. Good luck!
6. You can no longer blink but when you close your eyes keep them shut and go to sleep.
7. If you accidentally close your eyes, keep them shut for 3 hours and then open them. 3 hours is considered the length of a nap.
8. You can no longer use the toilet to do private business.
9. You are to do your private business in your backyard.
10. If you do not have a backyard, then do your private business in your room.
Im running out of ideas.
Anyone care to add to the list?

11. You cannot speak Japanese
12. You cannot play Beethoven symphonies after one hearing only
13. You cannot call me a jerk
14. You CAN, however, knock out TheStatutoryApe's teeth

regards
marlon, who is really insulted and leaving these forums filled with rude people:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:
 
  • #63
What a bratty guru. :-p
 
  • #64
One thing about the internet, you will get honest opinions, nobody will suck up to you. You can either live in a dream world, or realize the truth. :smile:

Anyway, are you desperately trying to find something you're good at or what?
 
  • #65
TheStatutoryApe said:
What a bratty guru. :-p



He disrespected a guru!

*runs before the almighty mod power comes crashing down and takes out innocent civilian pengwuinos*
 
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  • #66
TheStatutoryApe said:
What a bratty guru. :-p

no no, what a bratty Ape...

Damn you, how dare you speak up like that to Beethoven's only true reincarnation !

I will kick your <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep>

err, regards, errr

marlono:)

and all the best for 2006 to you too :rolleyes: o:)
 
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  • #67
Pengwuino said:
He disrespected a guro!

What is a guro ?

Do i need to kick your <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> <beep> too ?

marlon, who wishes you a Happy Newyear from tha bottom of his heart.:-p
 
  • #68
Must.. destroy... guru!
 
  • #69
moose said:
Anyway, are you desperately trying to find something you're good at or what?

Indeed he is. This is the main activity of all mediocrities...

Well, i shall speak for Quantum Theory too when facing God. I speak for all mediocreties, i am their patron saint, i am their champion...

MEDIOCRETIES EVERYWHERE, I ABSOLVE YOU...
o:) o:) o:) o:) o:) o:) o:)
marlon
 
  • #70
Pengwuino said:
Must.. destroy... guru!

bring it on sucka...i am right here, right next to you...

marlon
 
  • #71
marlon said:
bring it on sucka...i am right here, right next to you...
marlon

I always knew that stuffed whale on the ground was you!
 
  • #72
Pengwuino said:
I always knew that stuffed whale on the ground was you!

ooo buuhuuu, is this the best you can do, hu ?

marlon, still charged and ready to go...:cool:
 
  • #73
QT,
You are indeed wasting your time and ours on these forums. You post nothing but inane threads which invite responses for you take as an insult.

If you wish to get benefit from these forums you need to start posting questions about math and physics in the appropriate forums. Ask questions designed to advance your knowledge of math and physics. You can indeed learn something here if you wish. So far I have not seen any effort on your part to do this.
 
  • #74
Integral said:
You can indeed learn something here if you wish. So far I have not seen any effort on your part to do this.

He has not yet learned any physics here, that is very true. However, he has learned this :

1) he ain't no musical prodigy
2) he ain't no linguistic prodigy
3) he ain't no calculus prodigy

This is some tough news, so let's go easy on him:rolleyes:

regards
marlon
 
  • #75
Ive heard enough of this QT bashing. You guys think you can just waltz in here like your the emperor, on the anniversary of the new year and be rude! Just because QT wants his own fanfare does not make him a bad person, even if he did find out he's only common. He said he could hear some Beethoven, yet all you guys did was bash him and egmont him on. With your tempest mindsets, I would be suprised if he ever comes back in here again. You guys took much humoreske in bashing him and insulting his intelligence. I am appalled.
 
  • #76
cyrusabdollahi said:
Ive heard enough of this QT bashing. You guys think you can just waltz in here like your the emperor, on the anniversary of the new year and be rude! Just because QT wants his own fanfare does not make him a bad person, even if he did find out he's only common. He said he could hear some Beethoven, yet all you guys did was bash him and egmont him on. With your tempest mindsets, I would be suprised if he ever comes back in here again. You guys took much humoreske in bashing him and insulting his intelligence. I am appalled.

Go read all of what he's posted in the past.
 
  • #77
Go read my post u dolt! You're missing the point of it, because your not learned in classical music.
 
  • #78
cyrusabdollahi said:
Go read my post u dolt! You're missing the point of it, because your not learned in classical music.

read the rest of my post because you haven't seen how he acts.
 
  • #79
Dude, you will understand the point of my post if you tell Chi to come read it, trust me. Marlon might understand as well.
 
  • #80
cyrusabdollahi said:
Ive heard enough of this QT bashing. You guys think you can just waltz in here like your the emperor, on the anniversary of the new year and be rude! Just because QT wants his own fanfare does not make him a bad person, even if he did find out he's only common. He said he could hear some Beethoven, yet all you guys did was bash him and egmont him on. With your tempest mindsets, I would be suprised if he ever comes back in here again. You guys took much humoreske in bashing him and insulting his intelligence. I am appalled.
A feeble effort. How long did you spend on this post, two minutes?

edit: Beethoven didn't write any humoreskes, and AFAIK waltzes either.
 
  • #81
cyrusabdollahi said:
Dude, you will understand the point of my post if you tell Chi to come read it, trust me. Marlon might understand as well.
Well, I did just now read your post, so now Pengwuino will soon understand what you meant just as soon...

Hmm...

I, uh...

...eh...er...hm.

No, I don't know what you're talking about.
 
  • #82
I'm pretty confused now myself.
 
  • #83
I clarified it in post no. 80.
 
  • #84
horray, rachmaninoff got most of it. He just missed the words: anniversary + waltz = Strauss, fanfare+for+the+common = copeland,
 
  • #85
cyrusabdollahi said:
horray, rachmaninoff got most of it. He just missed the words: anniversary + waltz = Strauss, fanfare+for+the+common = copeland,
Didn't notice those. I don't really like J. Strauss, and I really, really hate Copland (though, at least I can spell his name write :-p)
 
  • #86
Yeah, Copland is pretty bad. J. Strauss is great, if you don't like him you lack taste.
 
  • #87
rachmaninoff said:
I clarified it in post no. 80.
D'oh!

Sometimes it takes a minuet for things like that to sink in (even if it's in a liszt right in front of you).
 
  • #88
WHAT!? Aaron Copland is awesome! Fanfare for the Common Man and Appalachian Spring are just two of his most popular but he has a lot of other really great orchestral and choral works.

Losers.
 
  • #89
Jelfish now you really don't have any taste BE GONE!~!~~~ lol, chi, I thought you had some trebble with that one.
 
  • #90
Ah, geez folks, I go away for a few days, and this is what I return to. :rolleyes:

Okay, while QT has somewhat asked for the teasing by starting out asking if we think he has talent and then posting that he doesn't care what we think anyway, this seems to have gone a bit too far.

QT, being able to match notes you hear to the keys on a piano is, unfortunately, not sufficient to indicate any talent. This doesn't mean you have no talent, it just means this is not adequate to determine if you do. Even those with talent require training to develop that talent and make it something special.

What you have demonstrated is basic aptitude that will make it easier for you to learn to play the piano (or any other instrument) should you choose to take lessons. Having some sense of pitch, which is what matching sounds to keys is, will help you more quickly recognize wrong notes when you play them as you learn.

As with any interest, if it pleases you to do it, pursue it. We would do you a disservice to tell you that your skill translates into a special talent if it doesn't, but that does not mean you can't take lessons and develop a talent. Whether you ever develop any extraordinary talent or not doesn't really matter as long as you enjoy what you play.
 

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