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10.2: Aural Skills

  • Page ID
    310526
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    The Music Theory Minute
    https://musictheoryminute.com/

    “Dr. Jack” is available to chat and answer any questions you may have. Short video lessons are available on this site for those of you who are auditory learners that explain intervals, triads, and more advanced concepts like suspensions and modulations (remember—you do not have to worry about these yet!). If something doesn’t quite “click”
    for you on another site, try this one to come at it from a different angle.

    Good Ear.com
    https://www.good-ear.com/

    Choose “beginner” and start with simple interval identification, then move on to major vs. minor scales. There are some drills where you are asked to think in solfège. Unfortunately, you have to sign in to go beyond the basic version.

    Theta Music Trainer
    https://trainer.thetamusic.com/

    This site not only defines scales, but you can listen to .mp3 examples. The same is true for melodic intervals and dictation. You can obtain a free account to work your way through theory and aural skills courses, earning “belts” along the way. Games like “Parrot Phrases” ask that you play back what you hear on a keyboard or guitar. You can even
    play a game called vocal match, but a microphone and headset are required.

    Ear Beater
    https://www.earbeater.com/

    Exercises begin at a basic level and allow you to practice intervals, scales and chord identification. Some exercises go far beyond the scope of preparing to begin the aural skills sequence. Choose your level and challenge your ears as far as they’ll take you!

    MakeMusic
    https://www.makemusic.com/

    MakeMusic is a tool that can be used to practice sightsinging. The best part is that you get instant feedback on which notes were correct. Unfortunately, the cost is high, but if your school has a subscription talk to your teacher about the capabilities. It is probably more helpful for instrumentalists, but vocal exercises can be added fairly quickly and easily using Finale.

    Chet
    https://chetapp.io/

    Chet is an app that can be used to practice a variety of aural skills. There are tons of fun games to help you identify intervals, increase your tonal memory, and label scales and chords. You decide the difficulty level. Unfortunately, it is only available for Apple products.


    This page titled 10.2: Aural Skills is shared under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Jill Wilson and Natalie Steele Royston (Iowa State University Digital Press) via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.