I do a bit of both. I misplace my music so often that if I couldn`t memorise and play by ear I`d be in trouble. Also if I`ve heard a piece that I like and can`t afford to buy it for a while then I`ll play what I can by ear.

I can play quite a few pieces I hear by ear, if I`m familiar enough with the tune. It soon becomes easy to recognise what chords are playing (or at least the C major equivilant), so if I don`t know what exact rhythm or notes are, I can skim around that because I know the chords and melody.

i can but i havta listin it first and then get n idea of what its like then i can.

im not an adult...im answerin the person who asked it earlier in this post..im only 13

Sort of, but when it gets complicated or too fast, I can`t. I learned Debussy`s first arabesque by ear.

I`ve a number of students who played by ear. It`s often very pleasing to have em do that in the beginning, as they`re obviously very Musical. I always find that pp who used their ears more to be more able to feel and thus imitate. But as time goes by, learning will become tough. Caz the music gets too tedious to be played by ears anymore. U have to know how to read yr notes eventually.

I think youre absolutely right Dw. people who can play by ear are very musical and the easier pieces they can cope with, however when the pieces get harder they will lose the advantage they have, because they cant sightread

u noe i totally agree. playing by ear is cool impressing e sox off people at parties etc. but i think itz a handicap coz u gotta haf heard the song b4 u try 2 site-read even. hmmz
trixie

i envy people who can sight read fast
i don`t have that gift.

anyway, can you share some sight reading techniques?
i`ve been playing the piano for so years but my sight reading speed is still considered sloooooowwwww

I LAY BY EAR AND HAVE BEEN OPLAYING SINCE I WAS 12 I CAN READ MUSIC UP TO THE INTERNMEDIATRE CLASSICAL LEVEL AND VER COMPLEX GOSPL MUSIC AS WELL AS I CAN PLAY ALMOST ANY SONG WITH LYRICS.. BY LISTENING TO THE PEICE,,

I play by ear and I have ever since I was like 6 years old. I love it, its like understanding the music's secret language. i thank God that he blessed me with this gift. I feel so good knowing that I can instantly tell what a note or tune was. I just learned the intro into KC and Jo-jo's all my life!

yes i play be ear.
then when i check the real sheet music my ear hearing notes are 100% accurate to the true notes on the sheet music.

-Jenny M,14