| Ed-
My formal ear training was the standard course in school. It was very basic and almost exclusively major -minor tonalities, with the focus primarily on melodic sight-singing. I can do atonal lines without much trouble, but I feel much less comfortable once I get into chords.
My rhythmic ear is really good, however. I can hear rhythmic modulations pretty easily, and complex rhythms are kind of a game for me. I see them sort of 3-dimensionally when I hear them, which helps a lot.
I'm trying to work on playing in different modes, but I haven't developed enough of a routine to really keep at it every day - just not enough hours in the day. I'm using basic technical materials - Chris Kase's book, Nagel's Speed Studies, some of the Vizzuti and Gekker studies - but I don't really hear in a modal context. I'm a little frustrated - I know it shouldn't be this hard. Any suggestions would be welcomed with open ears! |