Ear Training
Application
In the music class room
The importance of Ear Training
• “Ability to hear is the essence of music, the core of
education in music is ear training.” – Herbert Spencer
• “The effectiveness of music appreciation is directly
dependent upon a knowledge of music.” – Herbert
Spencer
• “Developmental psychology studies have already shown
substantive individual benefits of music.” – Jose Cuesta
• Many times students are listening to music, but don’t
understand the basic elements and how they are put
together. This is why ear training is essential.
Ear Training Apps
• Use in class as a whole, then transition to individual
use on iPads.
• Work in groups at different stations
• Team competition
• Partner work
• What to find:
• Easy to use (so little training is necessary)
• Easy level for middle and high school students
• Relevant information
EarBeater
• Consists of lessons under main topics.
• Each lesson contains vocabulary applicable to the lesson.
• Lessons can be modified by the main user or original
lessons can be made.
• Keeps track of progress in all lessons.
• Costs $7.99 ~ iPads must be available
• The main topics include interval size, specific interval,
chords, chord inversions, and scales.
• See how it works
EarBeater
• Interval Size
• Plays two separate intervals, user identifies which one was larger and which
one was smaller.
• After the answer is chosen, the notes are displayed on the keyboard and staff.
• Certain intervals are drilled within a specific lesson, and you can choose
which intervals are in each lesson.
• Specific Interval
EarBeater
• Lessons are specific to a few intervals each.
• Separate lessons drill melodic and harmonic intervals.
• The interval is played and displayed on the staff and keyboard. Users select
from two options for their answers.
EarBeater
• Identify Chords
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Chords are played either as a block chord or arpeggiating descending/ascending.
Lessons are subdivided so you only drill one of the above at a time.
Variety of qualities
Notes are played and then displayed on the keyboard and staff.
EarBeater
• Indentify Chord Inversion
• Just like the chord identification, but it quizzes on inverted chords.
• Identify Scales
EarBeater
• Includes many different modes, including pentatonic
• Includes scale “formulas” – showing the intervals in numbers
• Played and then displayed on the staff and keyboard.
EarBeater
• Pros:
• Easy to use
• Plays the notes and displays
them in two ways
• Very specific lessons
• Provides definitions
• Allows you to create your
own lessons/assessments
• Can be used in a variety of
ways
• High customer reviews
• Cons:
• I would not use the entirety
of the app (much is too
hard).
• Doesn’t use solfegge, my
preferred use.
Research
• L Arnold. (2013,
December 22). Ear
Training Apps Review:
goodEar Pro and
EarBeater for iPad [online
magazine]. Retrieved from
http://www.askaudiomag.
com/articles/ear-trainingapps-review-goodear-proand-earbeater-for-ipad
• Spencer, H.S. (1947).
Music Educators Journal.
Ear Training in Music
Education, 33, (4). 44-46.
http://www.jstor.org/stab
le/3388378
• Cuesta, J. (2011). Applied
Economics letters, Music
to my ears: the (many) benefits
of music training programmes,
18, 915-918.