Lesson Three: Interval-Based Ear Training

lesson activity

Start by reviewing the basic concepts of intervals: What they are, how they’re measured, how they’re named.

DISCUSSION: Why is it important to learn intervals?

Explain how it’s easier to learn intervals by matching them with well-known songs. Use the Perfect 5th with Star Wars and Twinkle Twinkle as an example, modelling it vocally and on the piano before handing out the interval sheet to each student. Students will retain this sheet as a reference and to track which intervals they have mastered.

Next, establish a code system with the students. For each modelled interval, they will provide their answer by holding up a number of fingers equal to the interval’s number, accompanied by smiling for major intervals or frowning for minor intervals. (Aug/Dim 5th will not be used here, and Perfect intervals can use a neutral facial expression)

DISCUSSION: Does major always mean happy and does minor always mean sad?

Model intervals at random, between P1 and P8, repeating each one a few times and allowing students to come up with their answers. Allow students to look around at their peers and change their answers if need be.

ALTERNATIVE: If students are simply copying others and not working to come up with their own answers, have them close their eyes and give their response anonymously before allowing them to look at their peers.

Start with simpler intervals like P4, P5, M3, before moving on to more difficult ones like m6, m7, or M7.

EXTRA: In a vocal class, have students model intervals by singing or playing the lower note and then asking them to sing the upper note in unison. Allow them to tune themselves and establish a class consensus before playing or singing the correct answer.

DISCUSSION: Does linking the intervals to songs make them easier to learn?

This activity can be used as a warmup/review periodically to ensure students are improving their ability to both identify and model various intervals.

Lesson Background

Ear training is a crucial foundation of a musician’s training. Having a strong musical ear - being able to identify specific aspects of melodies and harmonies, and being able to link them to their appropriate musical elements - is a prerequisite for composition and advanced understanding of music theory. It is also important for performance, as being able to discern slight variations in pitch as well as how pitches interact with each other is critical to mastering wind instruments or singing.

Interval-based ear training builds understanding and confidence when dealing with intervals: the distance between any two notes. All melody is built from a series of intervals, one after the other. Harmony can be described as intervals stacked together at the same time. A foundational understanding of intervals, as well as being able to correctly identify and model them, is important for later work in analyzing layered voicings, counterpoint, chord theory, and other elements of music theory, performance, and composition.

Using popular songs as references can allow students to master interval-based ear training much more quickly and intuitively. There is a strong chance that students are already familiar with many of the intervals up to an octave based on their experience in listening to popular music; the only thing remaining is to link them with their proper names. Students may not yet know what a Major 6th is, but they almost certainly know the line “dashing through the snow” from Jingle Bells.