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HEARING  VOICES

Learning Music "By Ear"

3/6/2016

19 Comments

 
As one who has actively arranged vocal music for more than four decades, I have chosen to teach music by rote.  This method remains my choice, much to the dismay of countless musicians who  learn to sing and perform exclusively from sheet music.  Originally employed as a means of convenience, this teaching/learning "by ear" process has served to sharpen the musical skills of many devotees.  I speak from experience, having worked with some of the most amazing vocalists on the planet - - with a video example below.

Our singing weekends for churches, known as Praise & Harmony Workshops, are based upon the principle that ear-training is a powerful way to teach entire churches, especially beginners, how to sing in harmony.  Ear-training CDs have become essential for this purpose, as well as arranging everyone into voice parts -- sitting in sections while learning to harmonize.  We regularly witness stunning results as churches greatly improve their congregational singing.  This is a beautiful and rewarding experience!

Here is an example, featuring Acappella, that goes well beyond outstanding learning-by-ear skills.  The setting for this video was a rehearsal for a concert in Michigan.  On the day this video was shot, Wayburn Dean had never sung "Glory And Honor" before.  A few minutes after we asked him to try singing the lead vocal, we handed him the lyrics -- and amazingly, here is what happened:
Wayburn's stellar vocal quality and impressive interpretive skills are totally unique.  However, we contend that teaching beginners how to sing harmony is much easier than most musicians understand.

There are churches in which virtually no one can read music, yet their singing abounds in four-part harmony.  I am a strong proponent of emphasizing musical literacy while equipping churches (not just a choir) how to read music; but from an early age, my personal experience has been to learn "by ear" first, while tackling the music theory afterwards.
19 Comments
Luke
3/6/2016 07:41:56 am

Agreed. Combining "by ear" training with shape note singing training allows for a multitude of worshipers to sing in harmony.Singing is for believers

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Keith Lancaster link
3/6/2016 09:48:41 am

Luke, that is exactly why I teach shape notes. It is the quickest way for people who don't read music to learn how to sight read.

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Christine Smith
2/3/2019 09:33:31 pm

Do you still go to churches and teach these workshops

Randy Lum link
3/6/2016 08:22:29 am

Keith,
This is exactly the way to teach.
Very proud of you & all those working with you.
You're an inspiration to people all over the world. May God continue to bless & keep you. 🙏🏻

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Keith Lancaster link
3/6/2016 09:49:17 am

Thank you for being such an encouragement, Randy!

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Danny Baker
3/7/2016 07:28:03 am

That is exactly the way I learned to sing harmony, specifically bass: by sitting near someone who could sing that part well and matching what they were doing. Then, after learning the song by ear, I would start matching the sound of each note to a shape and its position on the music! I also looked up to those men whom I aspired to sing with. For me, I think having godly role models (such as yourself) was just as important to the learning process as the learning style.

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Keith Lancaster link
3/7/2016 07:52:41 am

Yes, Danny. This can be a special mentoring process among our churches!

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Sean Renfroe
3/7/2016 08:11:03 am

That's how I started (learning harmony by ear). At church, my dad would sing Tenor and my mom would sing Alto. I was very lucky in that way.

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Keith Lancaster link
3/7/2016 08:31:51 am

What a blessing, Sean! I too, was blessed to grow up in a singing family and a singing church.

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James Tackett link
3/7/2016 08:25:10 am

Learning to sing by rote can be the fastest and easiest way to teach a particular piece of music. If the learner doesn't know how to read music, there isn't another good choice available that can achieve results in the short term.

However, that is all that learner will know - just that one piece of music. It is like teaching a memory verse from the Bible: the rest of the book will remain a mystery, until someone else who knows how to read will read to them and teach them more. There isn't a real substitute to learning to read, if your purpose is to expand your knowledge or to sing any piece of music you wish.

I think that the best way to teach music is to teach by rote and teach the learner how to read music at the same time. If you cannot read music, you are missing out on a world of music waiting for you, saying, "Pick me up and sing me."

There are several singing schools that do an excellent job of teaching sight reading. The Singing School at ACU is just one: www.singingschool.org

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Keith Lancaster link
3/7/2016 08:35:41 am

Well said, James! What a blessing that you provide the church through The Paperless Hymnal, which I use every week. I'm also thankful for the Singing School at Abilene, as I have sent many people to your school. I pray that many, many more will attend and that many more will use the Paperless Hymnal.

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Chima
3/7/2016 11:38:14 am

Wow! This post just confirms one of my fondest vocal training methods....it's the fastest learning route(at least, your songs and vocal techniques taught me alot). God bless you and your team for really unbundling your gifts to edify lives...it's my earnest prayer that congregations here in Africa will join this move towards promoting church unity.

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Keith Lancaster link
3/7/2016 07:17:14 pm

Congregational singing can be very unifying. It's no wonder that singing is encouraged in the Scriptures! So good to hear from Africa.

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John Onoriode
3/7/2016 12:13:37 pm

To My Mentor Kieth Lancaster....I am so proud to have you as my mentor in music....good works....strongly believe that music is for everyone, for those who can understand the notes and those who cannot....and that is why i believe in #LearningMusicByEar.

God bless the entire team God bless A cappella. I am John Onoriode, Founder We Love A cappella W.L.W.facebook.com/cappella2015 and www.wla2015.blogspot.com

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Keith Lancaster link
3/7/2016 07:18:06 pm

Good to hear from you, John.

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Daryl Burnett
3/7/2016 01:43:12 pm

Ear-Training gives you better creativity and and a certain spirit while singing. you don't feel as obligated to singing a tune exactly like it is played but you have more room to create and let the Spirit of the song fill you up and make something totally unexpected and beautiful. sone people maybe have to stick with the melody, but a more trained ear, like Wayburn, can create as the spirit leads them.

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Keith Lancaster link
3/7/2016 07:19:16 pm

I am so blessed by his creativity! You are very talented, Daryl.

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Sue Simons
3/7/2016 07:15:37 pm

So thrilled to see how you've grown over the years since we saw you first perform for the Shults Lewis Children's Home in Valparasio, IN. After, you and the group came to our unit and had said how much you had wanted a recording so my husband sat up and did a recording for you (along with the boys in the unit) We've been so happy to see your growth over the years and purchase your music. It is always my choice of music when in the van - keeps my mind on God while I'm surrounded by so many who can upset me so! :) May God lead you to continue to inspire people in His church to sing in the form of worship!

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Keith Lancaster link
3/7/2016 07:21:02 pm

So encouraged to hear how the music keeps your mind on God, Sue. Thanks for your message!

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    I believe that the human voice is the greatest instrument of music ever created. Harmonizing hearts and voices in praise to the Creator is the highest calling of mankind.  Host a Praise & Harmony Workshop for your church and sponsor leaders to attend the Worship Leader Institute
    PraiseAndHarmony.com

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