Theory : When a musician plays by ear without sheet music, a greater amount of attention can be focused on the interpretation of the music.
I believe that a greater amount of expression can be achieved when playing music by ear.
When a musician is playing from sheet music, attention is divided between
- reading the sheet music
- interpretation
- technique
However, when a musician is not reading from sheet music, there is the ability to focus a greater degree of attention on interpretation.
In some circumstances e.g. playing in an orchestra, this may not be an easy outcome to achieve.
So, how does a musician move away from sheet music to playing by ear ?
Here are some ways
- Repeatedly listen to the piece of music the musician wishes to learn
- Break down the piece of music into small sections and play the sections over and over again
- Try to play the piece of music without sheet music
Are there any other approaches to aid the transition from playing with music to playing without sheet music?
The best way I have found is to use a program such as ‘The Amazing Slow Downer”. You can get a recording of the piece you are learning and slow it down to any speed without the pitch being affected. A very helpful tool!
I think it is indeed a very helpful tool. Once the tune is slowed down, it is possible to hear the nuances of the tune. This is particularly useful in hearing how a player decorates a tune. The ideas of then how to decorate a tune start to flow, sometimes in large waves!