Ear Training & Aural Skills, Part 1: Rhythms (Udemy.com)
Mastering the art of learning music by ear on any instrument.
Created by: J. Anthony Allen
Last updated May 2026
What you will learn
- Students will be able to notate music by ear after finishing this class.
- Students will develop a deeper understanding of notated rhythms.
- Students will develop skills for listening, repeating, and writing music down completely by ear.
- What is Perfect Pitch?
- What is Relative Pitch?
- Identifying rhythms in 4/4
- Identifying rhythms with rests and ties
- Identifying and notating rhythms with 16th notes
- Notating rhythms with triplets
- Identifying rhythms in 6/8, 9/8, and 3/8
How it compares
Against the other 270 rated Udemy courses in Music on CourseDuck:
- Rating4.8 out of 5higher than 84% of them
- Reviews291#107 of 271 by number of reviews
- Length4.2 hourslonger than 60% of them
- Last updatedMay 2026more recently than 82% of them
Course Description
100% Answer Rate! Every single question posted to this class is answered within 24 hours by the instructor.
Are you a music maker, performer, composer, or aspiring songwriter looking to up your game? This is the place to start.
Ear Training and Aural Skills is the practice of learning to play music by ear, learning to notate music by ear, and learning to understand music on a deeper level just by hearing it. In this class we are going to learn techniques for listening, analyzing, and notating music (writing it down) just by listening. Perfect Pitch is not required.
If you don't know me, I've published a lot of music theory classes here. Those classes have been really successful, and the number one request I've been getting from students is to make an Ear Training sequence of classes. So here it is! This series will have 6 parts:
Part 1: Rhythms
Part 2: Diatonic Intervals
Part 3: Melodies
Part 4: Diatonic Harmony
Part 5: Chromatic Melodies
Part 6: Chromatic Harmony
Each of these classes comes with about 4 hours of training, and a LOT of things to practice with. And of course, access to me with any questions you have at any time.
Here is a list of some of the topics we will cover:
Why Do We Care about Ear Training?
The Myth of Perfect Pitch
Relative Pitch
"True Pitch"
Using a Tuner and Metronome
Dictation Practice Quizzes
Notating Rhythms in 4/4, 3/4, and 2/4
Working with Pitch
Adding in Rests and Ties
Adding in 16th Notes
Notating Rhythms in 3/8, 6/8, and 9/8
Adding in Triplets
A whole lot of things to practice with!
And Much, Much, More!
My Promise to You:
I am a full-time Music composer and Educator. If you have any questions please post them in the class or send me a direct message. I will respond within 24 hours. And if you find this class isn't for you, I am more than happy for you to take advantage of the 30-day money-back guarantee. No questions asked.
What makes me qualified to teach you?
In addition to being a composer and educator, I also have a Ph.D. in music, I am a university music professor, and have a long list of awards for teaching.
But more importantly: I use this stuff every day. I write music professionally, I am an active guitarist, and I stay on top of all the latest techniques, workflows, and styles. As you will see in this class, I just love this stuff. And I love teaching it.
You will not have another opportunity to learn Ear Training in a more comprehensive way than this.
Let's get started!
See you in lesson 1.
All best,
Jason (but call me Jay...)
Instructor Details
- 4.8 Rating
291 Reviews
J. Anthony Allen
Dr. Allen is a 2026 Apple Distinguished Educator.
Dr. J. Anthony Allen is a distinguished composer, producer, educator, and innovator whose multifaceted career spans various musical disciplines. Born in Michigan and based in Minneapolis, Dr. Allen has composed orchestral works, produced acclaimed dance music, and, through his entrepreneurship projects, he has educated over a million students worldwide in music theory and electronic music production.
Dr. Allen's musical influence is global, with compositions performed across Europe, North America, and Asia. His versatility is evident in works ranging from Minnesota Orchestra performances to Netflix soundtracks. Beyond creation, Dr. Allen is committed to revolutionizing music education for the 21st century. In 2011, he founded Slam Academy, an electronic music school aimed at increasing accessibility to music production education. His innovative approach to academia was highlighted in 2024 when he received tenure and resigned from his university position on the same day.
As a composer, Dr. Allen is known for his unique synthesis of diverse musical influences, often blending acoustic music with electronic dance music elements. With a Ph.D. in Music Composition, multiple master's degrees, and numerous awards, Dr. Allen's academic and professional achievements are substantial.
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Reviews
By Winsome Pinnock on 2/27/2026
I like the fact that the tutor is very clear about what one can expect to achieve after completing this course. He makes it clear that students need to practice every day to acquire the skills. So far I am finding this course accessible and very engaging. Great tutor.
By Ariel Garcia Mayorga on 7/4/2023
Excelente lecciones y pude ir a mi propio ritmo y al final pude aprender todo lo que me enseño, mañana comienzo el siguiente curso! :D
By Demian Ulrich on 2/2/2023
I already had a decent musical background to start with, but reading and notating rhythms was always something I just couldn't do that well. Yet I've noticed that in 2 days alone, I've managed to improve my skills drastically - the theoretical knowledge was all there, I just didn't know how to apply it in this context, and this course has really helped me fill all the necessary gaps so far to become a lot more acquainted with notating and reading rhythms. The exercises are well-paced; not confusing to the point you'll want to tear your hair out, yet also challenging enough to really force you to pay attention. This is clearly meant for people who already have a bit of experience with music theory, and from that perspective, this course has been unbelievably valuable to me. I also appreciate how it encourages you to use traditional sheet paper & a pencil - I underestimated how powerful those tools can be for studying.
By Nancy Webster Manchester on 11/28/2022
OMG musical dictation for rhythm is so hard! It would be helpful for me, at least, if we progressed more slowly through the lessons since I'm really struggling & I'm just halfway.
By Yueqian Wu on 8/23/2022
Wonderful course. I thought ear training would be boring and painful, but no it is a lot of fun. I look forward to it everyday. It's sort of like playing a video game. It probably improves brain function too. Thanks, Jason, for making this wonderful course. I am going to buy the whole series now.
By Michael Monjeau on 4/4/2022
Jason is a wonderful teacher who's exceptional at his craft. I have learned so much from his teachings. I plan to take more classes in the future.
By Barbara Witchard on 12/30/2021
Because the instructor explained the definition and the function of relative pitch vs perfect pitch in a way that was clear and understandable
By Pamela A Jarvis on 11/18/2021
Thorough course . Lots of practice tunes available. Found speaking a little too drawn out otherwise a 5 star. Well constructed and on to the next on intervals .
By Linda Holenski on 9/24/2021
Easy to navigate on mobile, instructor is honest in mentioning ear training can be challenging and takes time to practise.
By Larry on 5/25/2021
I play tin whistle and flute in an Celtic/Irish band out of West Michigan. Irish music is supposed to be learned by ear - through generations a listening and passing in to others.. However, there are several Irish session sites that now offer sheet music. And although I read music, I rely on that method too much. I need to develop a better ear to grasp new tunes as well as helping to memorize the tunes I already know for my band performances. A better ear aids in crafting melodic variations which are so prominent in Irish music Go to an Irish session in some pub and no one uses sheet music - it's actually frowned upon. Everything played is done by ear. The tips and tricks of this course with practice will train my ear quicker tune comprehension.
Quality Score
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Overall Score : 96 / 100










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