Thomas Veitch (The Melody Master) – Interview (Part 2)

This is the second part of the conversation I had with Thomas Veitch from The Melody Master. In case you haven’t done so already, read the first part here.

PART II

MUSIC & YOU

When did you become interested in music? What was the first album or single you ever purchased?

Growing up in Manchester in the Madchester early 90s era, I got really into bands like Happy Mondays, Stone Roses, The Charlatans, Inspiral Carpets. My first purchase though was when I was a kid, and that was Ghostbusers.

Are you in a band yourself, or have you been in a band in the past? Is there a clip on YouTube or elsewhere we could watch?

I was in a band called Survival. It didn’t survive very long and didn’t make it out of the bedroom.

Musical likes and dislikes? Favorite artists?

I like any genre or type so long as it’s got energy and a cachy tune. Los de Abajo, Little Barrie, Fats Waller, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Arctic Monkeys, Profokiev.

I can’t stand wishy washy dreary music which makes you fall asleep. Continue reading

Thomas Veitch (The Melody Master) – Interview (Part 1)

This is the first part of the interview I have had the pleasure of conducting with Thomas Veitch, the operator of The Melody
Master
. This is where we talk about the site and the reception it has had.
And this is Part 2 (“Music & You”).

The Melody Master

Full Name: Thomas Veitch
Age: 35
Site: The Melody Master
Position: Operator

PART I

THE SITE

Tell us a little about your site. Why did you create it? What was the original launch date?

I along with many musicians wish to be able to play an instrument by ear. You listen to a melody or riff and then wish to play it on the piano or guitar.

By providing some exercises, you can train your ear to do this. I’ve certainly improved my ability and I’ve noticed I’m starting to improvise now when playing the piano. I’d love to get to a level where I’m playing the same notes that I have in my head.

Are you happy with the way it has evolved so far, or do you think that there is still a lot to be added?

Yes, there’s always more exercises and games. The more exposure the site gets, the more feedback and requests we get from users which we aim to include.

What has been the feedback you have received? In which countries has The Melody Master been more successful?

Feedback has been positive. Users want us to put certain melodies in for them to learn. One user requested to be able to use the games entirely from the keyboard as it was easier for him. Another user requested to add a function to gradually make games harded by being able to control the intervals between the notes as in the Higher or Lower game. One user from Germany wanted a pitch memory game which we built.
The Melody Master has been popular in Europe and North America. Unexpectedly we’ve been quite popular in the Philippines. I think that’s because they have a lot of cover bands. Continue reading

The Melody Master – Learn To Play The Piano By Ear

The Melody Master
Name: The Melody Master
ULR: http://www.themelodymaster.com

There were only two instruments that I ever tried to learn in earnest in my life: the guitar and the piano. In both cases, my mind was made up because those were instruments we had at home. Had it been down to me, I would have gone either for the drums or the bass guitar. And I know it is not late to pick either now, but I no longer have the time and (what’s more important) such a starry-eyed outlook on music to go for it. And today I’m also aware that creating music is not my forte.

Could a site like this one have helped me when I tried to learn the piano? Well, the basic premise is letting you mastering how to play the instrument by ear. Back then, I was absolutely reliant on sheet music. And I think that was my problem. You took the sheet music from me, and that was it.

And I don’t know if this site could have worked out for me or not, but I can tell you for sure that (had it been available back then) I would have loved to at least check it out. It is full of online exercises and games that you can try out, and (on the whole) these will let you learn how to distinguish the intervals between notes, how to memorize the pitch, how different chords are constructed…

The site even includes a beginners game that consists in telling if a given note is higher or lower than the other. That is the first thing you must master when trying to play something by ear. To some (lucky) people, that comes naturally. Others have to work on it to make it grow. Well, this site will let them do it. And at no cost. Continue reading