Real Ear Training: Piano Book

Real Ear Training fills a genuine void in piano pedagogy by treating ear training as a standalone, systematic skill rather than an afterthought to technique. Perrin's step-by-step approach demystifies what often feels like magic (hearing and transcribing music) and makes it achievable for any pianist willing to work through the exercises. The integration of online audio with written instruction means students get immediate feedback on their listening choices without needing a live teacher present.

Working through Real Ear Training shifts your relationship with music from passive listening to active engagement. As you progress, hearing a song on the radio becomes a puzzle you can solve, and the satisfaction of transcribing a complete melody, chord progression, or drum groove is immediate and motivating.

This book serves pianists of any age or ability who want to develop genuine listening skills and the ability to transcribe music by ear. It works equally well for classical pianists seeking to understand jazz harmony or pop structures, jazz students building transcription fluency, and anyone who has ever wanted to learn a song they heard without hunting for a lead sheet. No prior ear training experience is necessary.

• Work through the exercises sequentially rather than skipping ahead. Each section builds the listening vocabulary you'll need for more complex tasks.
• Use the online audio actively. Sing or hum along with melodies before you write anything down; this strengthens the connection between your ear and your voice.
• Practice transcribing real songs you love once you've completed the foundational chapters. Return to the book's framework whenever you get stuck on a particular element (bass line, rhythm, harmony).
• Spend time away from notation when working through listening exercises. Close the book, listen to an audio example, and try to capture what you hear before consulting the written answer.

Assign this as supplemental ear training for jazz ensemble or upper-level theory students. You can also recommend it to individuals who want to strengthen their listening independence before or after sectional rehearsals.

• Identifying and transcribing melodic intervals and phrases
• Hearing and naming chord qualities (major, minor, dominant seventh, extended chords)
• Transcribing bass lines by ear
• Recognizing and notating rhythm patterns and syncopation
• Analyzing drum kit grooves and translating them to notation
• Building aural memory for harmonic progressions
• Connecting what you hear to what you write in standard notation