Links update: 01/06/2022
Join internationally-acclaimed vocalist Michael Mayo as you sing through essential exercises to quickly train your ear. This Master Class provides you with the exercises and tools you need to develop your ear and unlock a new appreciation for music.
Ear Training
Developing your ear is a fundamental skill that will help you bridge the gap between what you hear and what you play. This Master Class will train you to identify the basic theory behind a song with nothing more than your ears. This is normally one of the first classes music students take in college.
Ear training isn’t something you leave in the practice room! Once you develop this skill, the world of music will open up for you. You’ll recognize chord progressions, intervals, and bass movements in your favorite music. This class provides you with the exact exercises and tools that you need to improve your musical hearing.
What you’ll learn
This Master Class will teach you how to identify and sing basic scales, intervals, triads, and chord progressions using only sound as a reference. This is an incredibly-valuable skill that will enhance your overall musical prowess and professionalism.
In Module 1, you’ll get to know the seven notes of the major scale like the back of your hand.
In Module 2, you’ll learn how to sing and identify diatonic triads through three exercises with included audio practice tracks.
In Module 3, we’ll break out of the key of C major. This is where you’ll learn how to recognize and identify all 12 intervals. We’ll also provide you with a handy list of popular songs you can use to familiarize yourself with each interval.
In Module 4, we’ll put it all together and recap everything you’ve covered. Then, we’ll take things one step further by learning how to sing the major pentatonic scale, bass notes, and improvised melodies.
Each module builds on the last. Throughout the class, Michael will walk you through the exact exercises that he uses to mentor and teach his students. These are the same techniques that are taught at top-tier colleges and conservatories across the US.
Meet your instructor
Michael Mayo is an acclaimed jazz and R&B vocalist based in New York City. After graduating from the New England Conservatory of Music, Michael attended the acclaimed Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance, where he learned from Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, and Luciana Souza.
You might have heard him perform with Moonchild, Kneebody, Gretchen Parlato, and Theo Bleckmann (among many others.) Michael is an expert educator with a knack for making singing and ear training approachable and easy to learn.
What’s included
Four modules with 20+ minute lesson videos
Downloadable audio practice tracks
30 minutes of interval training audio
World-class instruction by an industry expert
Who is this class for?
This class is suitable for instrumentalists and singers of all levels and ages. If you find yourself wondering which note or chord someone is playing when you listen to music - this class if for you. If you want to be more comfortable in jam sessions with other musicians - this class is for you. If you want to get better at writing and arranging your own music - this class is for you.
Ear Training FAQ
What is ear training?
Ear training is the skill of sonically identifying melodies and harmony. The goal of ear training is to connect what you hear to what you play.
Why learn ear training? Why is it useful?
Ear training is a fundamental skill for all musicians. This is normally one of the first classes music students take in college. Developing your ear will enable you to decipher what’s happening when you hear music by identifying musical elements like pitch, scales, chords, progressions, and intervals in your head.
Do I need perfect pitch to take this class?
Nope! This class will help you develop your relative pitch – a skill that anyone can learn. Michael will guide you through step-by-step exercises that you can build into your daily practice schedule, no perfect pitch required!
What equipment do I need?
Just your voice, but a piano is helpful (and a guitar will work in a pinch).
Why do I need to sing to develop my ear?
This class relies heavily on singing because vocalizing notes, intervals, and melodies is one of the best ways to internalize them. Singing is a widely-accepted practice for developing your ear and is the method used by educators in music programs worldwide. If you’re not a singer, don’t worry. The singing you’ll do in this class is purely an exercise to train your ear.
What if I don’t know how to sing at all? I sound like an angry stray cat when I try to sing.
Don’t worry about how you sound! You don’t need a beautiful voice to benefit from this class. The important thing is that you’re able to accurately reproduce the pitch of a note after hearing it.
If you’re an absolute beginner, you can practice this by playing different notes on your instrument and matching the pitch with your voice. If a note in an exercise feels like it’s out of your range (i.e. too high or low for your voice,) try raising or lowering the note by an octave on your instrument so it’s more comfortable to sing.
How much will I need to practice?
If you’re new to ear training, we recommend regularly practicing this skill at least 15 minutes per day, 5 days a week. If you don’t have that much time, it’s not the end of the world – the most important thing is that you maintain some type of regular practice schedule.
How long will this class take me?
This class will teach you all the exercises you need to know in four modules made up of 20+ minute videos. After that, it’s up to you to practice the exercises. This is an intensive class consisting of material that’s usually taught over multiple semesters in traditional music programs. The material here will take you at least 4-6 weeks to properly master.
Ear training is a transformative skill that will unlock a new appreciation of music for you. Congratulations on taking the first step to learn it. Let’s get started!
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