QUESTION 2 (by a visitor to PianoMagic.com):
I've been playing piano since age 5.
But honestly, I couldn't play if my life depended on it...WITHOUT
SHEET MUSIC! I just don't believe a person can learn to play
by ear. Either you can or you can't. Isn't it a gift from
God?
ANSWER (by Instructor Michael Anderson):
ABSOLUTELY 'playing by ear' is a gift! So is breathing, walking, talking, seeing, writing, etc... Like you, I used to believe
you had to born with the ability. I was wrong! Now that I know better, in PMMO,
I'll share everything I know to help YOU find your natural
talent and hidden 'gifts' of music! If you can hum, whistle
or sing, you have all you need to succeed! You have my word
and personal guarantee on this! ***** Michael Anderson
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
Thats a complete falacy! Playing by ear is a technique that
can be aquired as far as I'm concerned, by anyone.You just
need to know the fundementals and rules that you need to apply
.These are the same rules and techniques that the majorirty
of "play by ear" musicians use conciously or subconciously
when playing...and the good news is they can be acquired...Piano
Magic...teaches all the above and more...if you want anymore
testament to these comments,contact me at: andywilce@hotmail.com
Best Wishes & Happy Playing!! Andy
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
Follow Michael's easy instructions and you WILL, I am sure,
play by ear. It is like driving a car--you watch the road
while you are driving--you watch the keys while you are playing!
Reading sheet music forces you to find the piano keys by feel,
while looking ahead at the sheet music. I find THAT difficult!
Go for it! You CAN do it with PMMO! LOGS
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
funny. i used to think same thing. :) now i play and enjoy.
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
I too began at five - memorized everything - can't play well
while reading music. God gave me, as well as you, the gift
of loving music and one course with Michael Anderson showed
me how to play by ear! Thanks Michael!
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
I was "taught" the very same thing by an ignorant
classical piano teacher. She just didn't know any better.
This methodology is totally different and is already (within
two weeks) beginning to take me away from the printed music.
Tim Francis
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
Thats what I also thought for the past 20 odd years...if only
this course had been available to me years ago! ANYONE CAN
PLAY BY EAR....YES...ANYONE! If I can... anyone can :-)
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
I believe it is! Music sheets gave me no place for appreciation
and intuition.
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
I believed that also at one time but since taking the course
I can sit down and play a song without looking at sheet music
teton
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
Hi I can't read sheet music, but thanks to Mike, I can work
out my favourite tunes, and make a reasonable sounding noise!
His match game---matching the melody notes to the chords is
so simple when you think about it--but nobody ever thinks
about it, like Mike explains it! Mike is an excellent teacher.
You will do well with him as your guru! Good luck. logs
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
I thought so but even I learned to do it here. I'm playing
all the time because its so much FUN and I get better everyday.
Even my kids think I do good and THAT ROCKS! Jim
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
I took lessons as a child, and can play one or two "party
pieces"- not very well. I read music (very slowly). I've
been a member for just a month and now I can sit down at the
piano and play a tune from scratch in a way that sounds both
pleasant and quite competent. I suspect that people will progress
at different rates and start from different places, but I
think all those different rates will be a rapid acceleration
from wherever you are now. Buffy (UK member)
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
If you know the chords for the first, fourth, and fifth of
a musical scale, and you can hum then you can play by ear.
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
Maybe a gift from God for a few people, but for most of us
it is a time of learning something we WANT to do. I, personally,
know that playing without the sheet music can be scary, but
what a feeling of accomplishment to play from the heart with
expression.Rusti
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
I used to listen to my Dad play any instrument he wanted without
any lessons, and he especially played the piano beautifully.
I thought I would never be able to play like that--since I
didn't think I had a good ear for music. I took a few lessons
but was frustrated with how slow it was going and how unprofessional
it sounded. Thanks to Mike, with the combination I have impressed
everyone! Thanks Mike!
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
When I joined PMMO, I could read music and play piano from
sheet music but I could not play by ear. Some folks may recieve
a 'gift' from their diety or dieties, but I'm certainly not
one of them. After 3 WEEKS in PMMO, I can sit down anytime
and play 11 songs 'by ear' and I'm adding to the list all
the time. If you can hum or sing, I sincerely believe that
you can learn to play by ear with PMMO. H.S.
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
For the last 20 years I have been playing the piano WITH music
sheets. Now I am slowly moving away from the music sheets
and believe it or not, my piano playing sounds much better
than following the music sheets. Yes, definitely, it is a
gift from God. I discovered that gift in this Piano Magic
Site and I am on the way to developing this gift to its full
potential. Rosa
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
I somewhat thought the same thing. But I am giving it a shot
and I think I am learning to play by ear! (The jury is still
out!) Mike says anyone who can hum a tune can learn to play
be ear and I am giving him the benefit of the doubt.
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
Yes, it is a gift from God. Just like hitting a golf ball
300 yds., straight down the middle. Or, a baseball 400 ft.
Or, raising a family. What do you want to do with your life?
God gives you the talent, Piano Magic enhances it. You can
play piano without sheet music!
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
I also always believed that "playing by ear" was
a gift. It may well indeed be for some, but not for me. But
playing by ear is, most definitely, a skill that can be taught,
and learned. Mike Anderson does the teaching. I'm doing the
learning. And the ONLY way it could be easier is if I had
indeed been born with it!
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
I'd been playing since I was 7 and, like you, thought it was
a God given gift to play by ear...but believe me I joined
this website only 5 months ago and have almost forgotten how
to read sheet music! Honestly, not once have I had to use
written music. I can play any song I can hum to myself now
to a pretty high standard. Mike REALLY cares, and gave me
a 3 1/2 page personal reply to the first song I posted in
the forums. This really is the best site and delivers all
it promises...you have to be prepared to 'forget' all your
knowledge for a while though and start from scratch with really
simple tunes...however, you soon progress to adding lovely
chords and variations very quickly. Carole.
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
Yep, it's a gift from God....just about like everything else,
in my book. If you came to the table playing since age 5,
you brought along a lot more than I did. I don't believe a
person can learn to play by ear either unless they try. Me
and God know you can do this... even if you don't......Popeye
ANSWER (by a Piano Magic Member):
Since joining PM six months age I am now free of the attachment
to printed music and am able to create my own version of any
song that is in my head. What a sense of freedom to input
my feelings, desires and hopes into sound. Thanks to Mike
for putting out this course.
