On Playing By Ear Analysis

Before taking music 111, I only know little about music with few preconceptions. First preconceived idea which I hold was players who can play by ear are naturally genius or just a special gift. However, from the lecture, “Oral Tradition” and Lilliestam’s article I got the idea how the players can play by ear. In his article, "On Playing By Ear", Lars Lilliestam compared music to spoken language. He described as if we learn a variety of phrases, we can use the language in certain situation. Same for music, if players learn chord progression and forms, they can use repertoire and able to play by ear. Also, it was astonish to see how twelve bar blues can be played in thousands of song. Second preconception was that I do not know the reasons for the radio stations play almost same playlist over hundreds of …show more content…
I thought and learned from today’s society that singing is only for people for expert professional performers for my entire life. However, I was impressed by reading the one of Levitin’s statement, "Throughout most of the world and for most of human history, music making was as natural an activity as breathing and walking, and everyone participated." And the fact all humans can make and participate in music making. I was one too who become shy and feel like my voice or dancing is not good enough to perform in public. I was also stunned by the quote where the villagers told Jim, "What do you mean you don't sing?! You talk!" In Levitin Excerpt, it kept saying anyone who can talk can sing, and dance will come along the singing. I realized that I have a packed full of stereotype on music. Overall, this online class went well and had much information that I would like to learn. I also liked the video and the lecture. It would be better if we get some lecture about the last three assigned chapters instead of getting just quiz, for I had hard time understanding the new terms of