Musicianship Resources

View the Project on GitHub kshaffer/musicianshipResources

Melodic dictation demo

The following video demonstrates my process when dictating/transcribing a melody in a small number of hearings:

  • Get oriented to tonic, mode, meter, counting pulse.
  • Memorize as much as possible.
  • Transcribe what I remember after the first hearing before I forget it (usually beginning and end).
  • Note any repetition patterns that can make it easier to figure the rest of the melody.
  • Listen again, and try to memorize the whole thing.
  • Transcribe everything I remember.
  • Repeat the last two steps as necessary.
  • Use one last listening to check for errors, paying special attention to rhythm, durations, and rests.

Melodic dictation (demo) from Kris Shaffer on Vimeo.