1. Introduction to Ear Training and Sight Reading
Level 1
Unit 4: Playback by Ear
Note: This icon indicates an audio file. Throughout the units, listen for examples and practice exercises.
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2. Time Signatures
The time signatures for this level of sight reading exercises are 4/4 and 3/4, discussed earlier in Unit 1.
Overview:
4/4: 4 beats per measure; each beat = quarter note; also indicated with “C” for common time
3/4: 3 beats per measure; each beat = quarter note
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3. Key Signatures
The key signatures that need to be memorized for this course are C major, G major, F major, A minor, and D minor.
C major; no sharps no flats
G major; one sharp no flats
F major; no sharps one flat
A minor; no sharps no flats
D minor; no sharps one flat
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Ear Training Level 1 Unit 4: Playback by Ear

4. Playback By Ear
Playback by ear exercises are ear training exercises specifically designed for:
developing the skills to improve aural recognition of key, melody, interval changes, and rhythm
maintain beat and tempo
and play back short melodic phrases from memory
Note: For the playback exercises, the starting note will always be given, and the starting note is always the tonic. In other words, the starting note indicates the key signature of the playback exercise.
Example
Listen to audio clip twice
Starting note: G
Play the melodic phrase
Click or type enter and read the musical phrase
Evaluate how you did
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Ear Training Level 1 Unit 4: Playback by Ear

5. Playback Exercises
Sit at a piano. Listen to each example twice, then play the short phrase. The starting note (the tonic) is given. Listen to the phrases in order, and click or type enter to see the answer.
1. Starting note: C
2. Starting note: G
3. Starting note: D
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Ear Training Level 1 Unit 4: Playback by Ear

6. More Playback Exercises
Sit at a piano. Listen to each example twice, then play the short phrase. The starting note (the tonic) is given. Listen to the phrases in order, and click or type enter to see the answer.
4. Starting note: A
5. Starting note: F
6. Starting note: D
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Ear Training Level 1 Unit 4: Playback by Ear

7. Even More Playback Exercises
Sit at a piano. Listen to each example twice, then play the short phrase. The starting note (the tonic) is given. Listen to the phrases in order, and click or type enter to see the answer.
7. Starting note: G
8. Starting note: F
9. Starting note: A
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Ear Training Level 1 Unit 4: Playback by Ear

8. Some More Playback Exercises
Sit at a piano. Listen to each example twice, then play the short phrase. The starting note (the tonic) is given. Listen to the phrases in order, and click or type enter to see the answer.
10. Starting note: C
11. Starting note: F
12. Starting note: A
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Ear Training Level 1 Unit 4: Playback by Ear

9. Last Set of Playback Exercises
It’s the last set! Sit at a piano. Listen to each example twice, then play the short phrase. The starting note (the tonic) is given. Listen to the phrases in order, and click or type enter to see the answer.
13. Starting note: G
14. Starting note: D
15. Starting note: C
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Ear Training Level 1 Unit 4: Playback by Ear

10. Review
Remember the five key signatures covered at this level for playback exercises: C major, G major, F major, A minor, and D minor. Memorizing the scales for each key signature will immensely help when trying to playback by ear, because all of the short phrases are in those specific key signatures and 3/4 or 4/4 time.
Playback exercises require plenty of practice, and they are specifically designed to assist in pattern recognition and recall.
The starting note, which will always be the tonic, is given for each playback exercise. The possibilities are C, G, and F (which are major keys); A and D (which are minor keys).
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Ear Training Level 1 Unit 4: Playback by Ear