Editing Playing by ear (section)

== Method ==
One learns a piece of music by ear by repeatedly listening to it performed, memorizing it, and then trying to recreate what one has heard. This requires the use of several related skills such as [[ear training]], musical perception, [[tonal memory]], [[audiation]], [[music theory]], techniques, and knowledge about the culture of the music one is trying to learn.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-02-14|title=Ear Training: The Ultimate Guide|url=https://www.stringkick.com/blog-lessons/ear-training/|access-date=2021-02-17|website=StringKick|language=en-GB}}</ref> As such, learning to play by ear involves training those skills as well.

To practice playing music by ear, music teachers often have a student listen to short musical examples which the student will have to write out in [[musical notation]], play back on an instrument, sing, or describe using [[Musical note|note names]] or a [[solfège]] system. Musicians will also train their playing by ear skills by taking recordings of full songs and pieces, figuring out the notes by ear, and either [[Transcription (music)|transcribing]] or memorizing them. According to studies playing by ear is associated with a higher level of creativity and musical intelligence. <ref>{{Cite web|title=Playing piano by ear - Pianoholic|url=https://pianoholic.co/playing-piano-by-ear|access-date=2023-01-07 | website=Pianoholic Music|language=en}}</ref>

Audiation is a vital skill for playing music by ear. [[Gordon music learning theory|Edwin Gordon]], originator of the term, describes audiation as: "the foundation of musicianship. It takes place when we hear and comprehend music for which the sound is no longer or may never have been present."<ref>{{Cite web|date=2012-05-24|title=Audiation|url=https://giml.org/mlt/audiation/|access-date=2021-02-17|website=GIML - The Gordon Institute for Music Learning|language=en-US}}</ref> It is often described as the ability to hear music in your head. In this sense, audiation is to music what [[thought]] is to [[language]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Gordon|first=Edwin|title=Learning Sequences in Music: Skill, Content, and Patterns- A Music Learning Theory|publisher=[[GIA Publications]]|year=1997|isbn=1579990045|pages=13}}</ref> 

Learning to play by ear, in the sense of making music without notation, is often compared to learning to speak a language.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Music as a language - Victor Wooten|url=https://ed.ted.com/lessons/victor-wooten-music-as-a-language|access-date=2021-02-17|website=TED-Ed|language=en}}</ref> When sufficiently mastered, playing music by ear should be as comfortable and easy as having a conversation. We speak and react to what we hear, without having to think too deeply about every word we use. The same would be true when playing by ear. A musician can produce a sound at the same time they think of it, without having to consider every separate note they play.