Graham English

Posts Tagged ‘listening’

Benjamin Zander: Classical Music With Shining Eyes

“I will never say anything that couldn’t stand as the last thing I ever say.”

Sound Journal: Ringing

Last week I mentioned creating a sound journal as part of a listening practice and to improve your aural intelligence. So I thought it would be a good idea to give some examples of how to do this by keeping a public diary of sound. Hopefully, this will be good for both of us.
Today, I [...]

Ear Training or Listening Practice?

You can make ear training something you do once in a while or you can make it part of who you are. That’s the difference between ear training and a listening practice.
Ear training has often been half-jokingly, half-seriously referred to as “ear straining.” And I can understand why if it’s something that you feel forced [...]

Songwriting Challenges - Where Do I Begin?

One of the most common challenges I hear about songwriting is not knowing where to begin. With the lyrics? With the music? Or something completely different? It’s a rather simple challenge to find a solution to, really.
Start with a single note or single word
Play a single random note and just listen to your imagination. Does [...]

There Is Nothing Boring In Life. Only Boring People.

There is a common misconception that “things” can be boring. You may find doing your taxes boring. But some people find it riveting. Therefore, we can’t say that doing taxes is boring. “It” is not boring. Then what part of that sentence or thought is boring? It is the person doing the thinking that is [...]

Absolute Pitch Ear Training Podcast 10-06-06

Topics covered: The art and craft of absolute pitch hearing.

Understanding The Art And Craft Of Absolute Pitch Hearing

Learning to hear with absolute pitch requires both talent and tenacity. Little talent? Tenacity can help get you there. But if you lack tenacity, then you won’t even have the desire to learn. But focus on the reasons why you want to hear with absolute pitch and you will develop the muscles of tenacity and [...]

Hearing and Consciousness

From Mind Hacks: Tips & Tools for Using Your Brain
Hearing is the first sense we develop in the womb. The regions of the brain that deal with hearing are the first to finish the developmental process called myelination, in which the connecting “wires” of neurons are finished off with fatty sheaths that insulate the neurons, [...]

What’s The Most Powerful Technique For Perfect Pitch?

Jim: Ok, I just want to know what you think the most powerful technique for perfect pitch is. I usually just play an A chord and then randomly choose a note to figure out. It works pretty good but Im sure you’ve got a better trick.
Graham: Jim, here’s what I think the most powerful technique [...]