You Are What You Read

Playing By Ear

I read an interesting article on playing by ear, which means listening to a note and being able to copy that note. Whether you play that note on an instrument or sing it, you are very talented if you can do so. A lot of people that play by ear can't even read music, but if you can do both, then you're ahead of the game. I am good at playing and singing by ear, and I can read music fluently. Playing by ear doesn't always apply to music, though. Many believe that when listening to something over and over again, you start to memorize it, and I agree.

http://www.musictheory.halifax.ns.ca/whymusictheory.html