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Ear Testing for Beginners

Posted by DudeBro on 2/25/2026, 9:18 am

What do you do to test the ears of those joining beginner band?
Do you do the Selmer test?
If so, is there a modern version of that thing? Sorry, not a fan of the static-y old school synth sounds! Or something similar.
Do you just ask them to hum a few notes when testing for instruments?
Thanks!

Re: Ear Testing for Beginners

Posted by Jeremy L on 2/28/2026, 9:48 am, in reply to "Ear Testing for Beginners"

For horn especially when fitting them, I like to ask the child to sing happy birthday to me. This gives me a chance to listen for intervalic relationships, confidence and even tone quality consciousness.

Re: Ear Testing for Beginners

Posted by really retired on 2/25/2026, 9:52 pm, in reply to "Ear Testing for Beginners"

back when - I used the Selmer test every year. In addition to showing whether a student could hear pitches and differences - it gives you the student name, parent name, home phone number and whatever other info might be helpful over the summer. Of course you can use your own computer generated sounds, a piano, a trumpet, even a clarinet.

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