Some years back a neighbor of mine asked me if she could start attending my Friday night jams because she wanted to train her ear.

At that point she had been in a recorder band for several years which played primarily for 'international folk' groups and they did everything from dots which she read smoothly and readily.

She/we discovered she had an excellent ear. I admire her greatly; she is highly motivated and continues learning as her repertoire grows steadily. She still practices her music every day.

On a different note (no pun intended) a peeve of mine is singers whose songs are too rigid. To my mind, a song that has a story to tell should not have each syllable of equal length nor should words be forced to rhyme unreasonably (I remember one singer who sang "comFORT" for 'comfort'.

For the same reason, when I listen to recited poetry I don't like the 'bambambam bam bam' approach. I want a poem to be read almost conversationally. Let me fill in the rhymes.