Module: Performance Ear Training

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Performance Ear Training
Module Code	MPA1063 (ITS: MC330)
Faculty	Theology, Philosophy & Music	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

A module focussing on techniques to help learners develop a sophisticated ear, capable of dealing with the many aural challenges which face improvisers in contemporary jazz, and which are typical of the real world of professional jazz. The module uses real-time performance techniques to explore practical ear training and will concentrate on being able to identify and respond to aural information as it might appear in a live performance setting. Included in the module will be such techniques as identifying chord progressions, root movements, by ear and naming and improvising over them, as well as learning and tunes by ear.

Learning Outcomes

1. Be able to quickly learn tunes by ear
2. Be able improvise over unseen chord progressions by ear
3. Be able to identify a series of chord progressions by ear
4. Be able to identify scale sources of chords

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	Weekly, A one-hour group class
Independent Study	101	Independent practice of aural recognition techniques
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	11174	Part of Term	Semester 1 & 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Greg Felton	Module Teacher	Linda Adams

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Performance evaluation	Final Performance Assessment – a 30-minute assessment involving a series of aural recognition tasks covered in the lecture-workshop	100%	Sem 2 End

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Identifying and responding to aural information
The module will focus on techniques to help learners develop a sophisticated ear, capable of dealing with the many aural challenges which face improvisers in contemporary music, and which are also typical of the real world of professional jazz. The module uses real-time performance techniques to explore practical ear training and will concentrate on being able to identify and respond to aural information as it might appear in a live performance setting. Areas covered will include:

- Identifying root movements by ear and singing them

- Identifying chord progressions by ear and naming them

- Identifying chord progressions by ear and improvising over them

- Learning tunes quickly and accurately by ear

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Coker, Jerry: 2015, Hearin’ the Changes: Dealing with Unknown Tunes by Ear, Advance Music,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

App: Jakobsen, Hans Lavdal, 2016, EarMaster, EarMaster ApS,