I’ve never heard anyone claim that aural training is a highlight of their musical exploration. In fact, it is often identified as a source of stress in exam preparation. So, does it really matter? That depends on whether you see yourself as a musician who plays the piano, or a pianist who plays music.

Firstly, what does aural training mean? In short, it’s about bringing together skills in listening, understanding and responding to nourish your development as a musician. It may seem like an annoying hurdle, but the value to your future playing and learning is extensive. Most of this work is done away from the piano bench, but then applying the learning at the piano is the intended result.

is one of the most fear-inducing components of aural work, in part because we wouldn’t all call ourselves singers, not to mention that being separated