Training the Ear, Volume 1: Book & CD

Donelian strips ear training down to what matters: a clear progression of exercises that build real listening skills without unnecessary theory overhead. The included CD lets students work independently, which means you can assign it with confidence that they'll have concrete material to engage with at home.

Working through these exercises is methodical and grounded. You move from simple to complex at a pace that respects your learning, building the kind of ear that lets you hear music clearly and respond to it instinctively.

Students starting their jazz studies in college or in serious private lessons will find this book matches their actual needs. Any musician eager to sharpen their listening skills and develop reliable aural habits benefits from Donelian's systematic approach.

• Sing the exercises aloud before you try to name or analyze them; your voice is the fastest way to internalize pitch relationships.
• Work through the book in order rather than jumping ahead; each section prepares your ear for what comes next.
• Spend a full week on any exercise where you feel stuck; rushing through gaps creates problems later that are harder to fix.
• Use the CD to check your answers, then sing the same passage again without it to build independent confidence.

Assign this as foundational work in your jazz studies curriculum or recommend it to students who need stronger aural skills before they dive into improvisation. The self-study format makes it ideal for independent work alongside ensemble or private lesson instruction.

• Interval recognition and singing
• Chord quality identification (major, minor, dominant, etc.)
• Melodic transcription
• Harmonic analysis and Roman numeral notation
• Jazz chord changes and progressions
• Rhythmic accuracy and subdivision