Any mainstream American pop tune, Beethoven symphony, or British children’s song shares a common thread: Western harmonies. Why does Western culture center on specific chords? What is the link between memory, harmony, and ear training? Does music improve memory?

Growing up in Western culture, your ear and brain absorbed a specific “musical hierarchy” where the tonic of a scale had more importance than other pitches.[1] For example, in D Major, your ear automatically gravitates towards the pitches D, A, and G, and finds notes like C# dissonant. Even as an infant, you demonstrated a clear preference for specific Western harmonies. [2] Why is this?

Since childhood, the music you listened to impressed upon your long term memory a distinct preference for the tonic (D) and the dominant (A). Musical training affected your perception of music and your ability to recognize pitch. [1] The more musical exposure you experienced, the greater the impact on your brain and memory.

To recognize a pitch during ear training, your brain performs mental gymnastics. Click to read the rest…

Cutting edge ear training technology today transforms your laptop, iPhone, iPad, and other electronic gadgets into mobile music devices. Anyone who wants to improve their pitch, rhythm, voice, and ears need only download an app or push a button.

The latest music technology tools help singers, instrumentalists, music educators, and music lovers improve pitch, rhythm, vocal quality, and timbre in a variety of innovative ways.  Recent technological innovations in the field of music robotics and music technology for both the visually and hearing impaired have broken new ground in music education tech tools. Exciting music apps and music education software tools integrate the latest touch technology to make ear training fun for beginning musicians and students.

What ear training technology is available today? What does the ear training technology of the future look like? Let’s take a look into our music tech crystal ball and check out the latest in ear training tools!

RoboMusic and I-Blocks

The Centre for Playware in Denmark has developed music robotic building blocks which train young children how to compose music and recognize different musical styles and instruments by ear[1]. The “I-Blocks” (intelligent blocks) communicate with other blocks and use a 3D accelerometer to detect gravity. Color coded to indicate instrument type and filled with a large library of musical segments, the I-Blocks in the RoboMusicKids system create new exciting compositions as the children manipulate the blocks.

RoboMusic allows children to create exciting compositions as they manipulate the robotic buikding blocks

Practica Musica

For many music educators looking for a comprehensive music program suitable for elementary and secondary education, Practica Musica “Your Personal Music Tutor” offers a wide range of ear training and music theory tools. These music education tools allow students to Click to read the rest…

UPDATED: 18th January to include further information from Dr. Daniel Müllensiefen.

Researchers from the “Music, Mind and Brain research group” at Goldsmiths, University of London are embarking on a project to discover how musical people are – including those who don’t consider themselves musical at all!

In collaboration with the BBC Lab UK, they have developed a simple 25-minute test which you can take online to discover how strong a sense of musicality you have.

The research hypothesis is that people without any level of musical training will be able to do very well – and in some cases just as well as formally trained musicians who take the test. They think it’s possible that people develop a strong sense of music just through everyday exposure to and appreciation of music; even if they’ve never considered themselves a musician.

Click the image below to take the test:

(You’ll need to register with the BBC website if you haven’t before – it’s quick and easy!)

What is “Musicality”?

The test is in seven short parts. Three ask you various questions about music, what it means to you, how much training you’ve had, and so on. Four are interactive musical tests, which ask you to do things like tap along with a song, or arrange short clips into groups that go together musically.

But before you start worrying that you’ll have to whip out your instrument, or brush up on your singing – there’s no need, as the test focuses on aural skills. Dr. Daniel Müllensiefen, one of the lead researchers on the project, explains “Musical performance is one aspect of musicality but by far not the only one – and maybe not even the most important one.”

At the end of the test you’re shown your scores for each of several dimensions of musicality, including “enthusiasm for music”, “musical perception” and “emotional connection”. Click to read the rest…