Aural Skills – NATALYA PLAYS PIANO

How to Read Lead Sheets and Fake Books: A Pianist’s Guide

June 14, 2025

Accompanist Guide, Artist Growth, Aural Skills, Collaborative Pianist, Ear Training, Ensemble Playing, Music Analysis, Music and Emotion, Music Education, Music Industry, Music Storytelling, Music Theory, Musicianship, Performance, Piano, Piano Accompaniment, Piano Exercises, Piano Inspiration, Piano Practice, Piano Technique, Practice Tips

chord symbols piano guide, fake book piano tutorial, how to play from lead sheets, how to read lead sheets, lead sheet piano accompaniment, lead sheet vs full notation, learn lead sheet notation, piano for singers accompaniment, reading fake book notation, real book piano tips

Whether you’re sight-reading for a last-minute gig, jamming with a singer, or performing pop songs at a wedding, lead sheets and fake books are a lifesaver for pianists who want flexibility, freedom, and speed. But if you’re used to fully-notated classical scores, lead sheets can look… a little bare. Just a melody? A few chord
Continue reading →
Musicality explained: A Beginner’s Guide to Expression

June 7, 2025

Artist Growth, Aural Skills, Career Development, Collaborative Pianist, Ear Training, Music Analysis, Music and Emotion, Music Career, Music Education, Music Psychology, Music Science, Music Storytelling, Music Strategy, Music Theory, Musicianship, Performance, Pianist Mindset, Piano, Piano Inspiration, Piano Practice, Piano Technique, Practice Tips

expressive piano playing, how to improve musicality, how to play piano musically, music expression skills, music performance tips, musical expression, musicality for pianists, piano artistry, piano emotional playing, piano interpretation tips, piano performance tips

“But how do I play it musically?” If you’ve ever asked your teacher that question – or been that teacher – you know how slippery musicality can feel. It’s not just about playing the right notes, or even playing them well. It’s about making music speak – telling a story through sound, communicating emotion through
Continue reading →
Perfect Pitch: What It Is, Can You Develop It, and Do You Need It?

May 24, 2025

Aural Skills, Ear Training, Music Education, Music Theory, Musicianship, Piano Technique

benefits of perfect pitch, can you develop perfect pitch, do famous musicians have perfect pitch, how to play music by ear, how to train your ears for music, is perfect pitch rare, music theory perfect pitch explained, perfect pitch vs relative pitch, relative pitch training, what is perfect pitch

For as long as I can remember, I’ve had perfect pitch—but for much of my early life, I didn’t realize it was anything unusual. I just assumed that everyone could identify notes instantly, recognize keys without a reference, and pick out melodies without too much effort. As a child, I would sit at the piano
Continue reading →
Learn Music by Ear: 6 Steps to Recognizing Chords & Melodies Like a Pro

May 10, 2025

Aural Skills, Ear Training, Music Analysis, Music Education, Music Theory, Musicianship, Piano, Piano Exercises, Piano Practice, Piano Technique, Practice Tips

best ear training methods, ear training exercises, ear training for pianists, how to hear chord progressions, how to identify melodies faster, how to improve musical ear, how to play by ear piano, how to recognize chords by ear, how to train your ears for music, solfège for ear training

Have you ever listened to a song and wished you could immediately play it by ear? Training your ears to recognize chords and melodies is one of the most valuable skills a musician can develop. Whether you’re a pianist, singer, or instrumentalist, having a strong ear makes learning music faster and more intuitive. But how
Continue reading →