Timothy Van Cleave

Ever listen to a song and wish you could play it just like that? One of the most powerful ways to build your ears, technique, and memory is transcription—learning music by ear, one note at a time.

I know, I’ve posted about this on social media before, and it didn’t get much traction. But I want to say it again: students, this is for YOU. Not pros. Not virtuosos. Just people who want to get better.

The goal isn’t perfection. It’s retention. You want the tune to stick in your memory like your favorite lyric or chorus. Here’s how to make that happen:

• Pick a short section. 4–8 bars is plenty. Don’t overwhelm yourself.
• Listen on repeat. Loop it until it starts living in your head.
• Sing it. If you can’t sing it, you probably can’t play it.
• Figure it out slowly. Use your instrument and your ear, not a chart.
• Play along. Once you’ve got it, try matching the original recording.
• Revisit later. The next day, try again—this helps lock it in.

Transcription isn’t magic—it’s repetition. But it builds serious skills.