Waterloo Researchers Identify Four Strategies to Enhance Music-by-Ear Learning
Researchers tapped YouTube tutorials to reveal that built-in loop and speed controls go largely unused, pointing to the need for new memory-focused ear-training features
Overview
- Researchers reviewed 28 YouTube tutorials on ear learning to examine instructional structures and memory retention techniques.
- They proposed four design strategies: enhancing recall prompts, segmenting playback into small chunks, identifying musical subsequences and enabling unlimited note loops.
- The analysis revealed that most creators and learners ignore existing features like playback looping and speed adjustment despite their availability.
- The study critiques traditional music education’s emphasis on sheet music and recommends tailored, memory-oriented approaches.
- Presented at the ACM International Conference on Tangible, Embedded, and Embodied Interaction, the findings offer actionable insights for educators and software developers.