From time to time, I meet someone who will tell me that they the piano by ear and because they claim to not be able to read music, they don’t consider themselves to be real piano players. I’ve even experienced people that have almost seen to be apologetic about playing the piano by ear, which I think is, quite frankly, a little crazy.
As a result of my own experiences first as a piano student and then as a piano teacher, I very much think it is valuable to learn to read music and to learn some music theory. I am what many would call a traditional music teacher and I’m comfortable enough with that label. Just because I value being able to read music, does not mean that anyone that plays the piano without reading music, is somehow a fraud or defective somehow at playing the piano.
I personally think that people who can play the piano by ear get enough credit for their abilities. It does take skill and careful listening to be able to play something, sometimes just the one time and be able to recreate it on the piano.
Even with all my training and experience I am actually a bit envious of people who can play the piano by ear. If I am ever going to be successful at playing the piano by ear, I am going to have to read a book or follow a course that specifically teaches me to play by ear. People who play by ear somehow just pick it up!
I think that it is a different talent that allows people to play by ear and even though it involves differing skills, should be acknowledged as a valid way of playing the piano. Just because people like me read music, doesn’t mean we necessarily play the instrument better.
Unfortunately, at least in traditional music circles playing by ear is viewed as invalid, maybe considered cheating in some way. It is not as valued as someone who learns to read music. I do not agree with this thinking. I never have.
I think that maybe there are two ways of playing the piano – the traditional, learn to read music notation way and the playing by ear way. Both should be equally valued and both methods should be equally encouraged. I think people fit into 2 categories – those that can play by ear and those who can’t and instead learn to read music.
The whole purpose of this blog is to encourage retirees and seniors to experience the joy of playing the piano. There is no one way to achieve this, rather there are several paths that this can take. I focus on learning to read music and playing from that music because this is my area of expertise, this is what I know and where I can share my knowledge. Just because I rarely mention playing the piano by ear, because I have little insight to offer in this area, does not mean that I think that playing by ear is less valid.
Let me conclude here by saying that if playing the piano by ear is your thing, then I encourage you to keep going.