Basics of Ear Training, Grade 1: Book

This Grade 1 workbook launches students into ear training with a structure that actually sticks. Five days of study per grade means students build confidence without feeling overwhelmed, and the included complete tests let you track genuine progress rather than guessing whether the material landed.

Structured and encouraging. The daily format removes guesswork about what to practice, while the progression from Grade 1 through ARCT makes every student feel they're on a clear path toward real musicianship.

Any student starting formal ear training, whether in a classroom setting or private lessons. This works equally well for young musicians building fundamentals and older students who never received systematic training.

• Schedule ear training for the same time each day. Consistency matters more than marathon sessions; five focused minutes beats sporadic cramming.
• Use the daily exercises as a warm-up before ensemble rehearsals. Students arrive with ears already engaged and listening actively.
• Check in with test results individually rather than as a group grade. This positions ear training as a personal skill-building tool, not a performance pressure.

Assign this as ongoing homework in general music classes or as part of applied lesson curricula. The five-day structure pairs well with weekly lessons; students complete one cycle each week and bring results to their next session for review.

• Interval identification and recognition
• Scale degree hearing and tonal function
• Rhythm notation reading and execution
• Chord quality discrimination
• Melodic dictation fundamentals