Ear training or
aural skills is a skill by which
musicians learn to identify, solely by hearing,
pitches,
intervals,
melody,
chords,
rhythms, and other basic elements of
music. The application of this skill is analogous to taking dictation in written/spoken language. As a process, ear training is in essence the inverse of
sight-singing, the latter being analogous to reading a written text aloud without prior opportunity to review the material. Ear training is typically a component of formal musical training.