This is a 12-step program to assist you in learning new music. It is only a suggestion until you learn a system that is best for you. The success of this program is contingent upon the effective listening skills of the learner — much more than upon one’s music background or the ability to read music. Any of the 12 steps may be repeated before continuing to the next step. But remember each step is important to the overall results of learning all the right notes, words, and timing of the song. Do not eliminate any of the steps because it appears to be insignificant.

The Twelve Steps

1. Listen to the music on the learning track with your eyes closed. (This will familiarize you with the notes, timing and general flavor of the song.)
2. Watch the notes on your music while you listen to the learning track. Do not sing yet!
3. Again, watch the notes on your music while you listen to the learning track. Do not sing yet.
4. Watch the words on your music while you listen to the learning track. Please, no singing yet.
5. On a separate sheet of paper (or on the back of your music), write all the lyrics to the new song. Now, watch your own paper while you listen to the tape. No, not yet … don’t sing, please.
6. Watch the notes again while you listen to the learning track. Remember no singing.
7. Watch the words on your music while you listen to the learning track. Be careful, not a sound.
8. Try to write down all the words again on another sheet of paper without looking at the printed music. If you have trouble, listen to the track again. Watch the words and then again try to write them without looking at the music. Stay on this step until you can write down all the correct words without looking back at the printed music. Now, proceed to Step 9.
9. Hurray! Finally, you can add your voice. Watch the notes on your music while you HUM along with the track. Hum … hum. Singing is next.
10. Watch the words on your music while you sing along with the track. Can you believe this? You’re really going to SING this song for the very first time. If you have any difficulty, circle the spot(s) on your music as you go all the way through. Then go back and listen (don’t sing) to those parts again.
11. On a recorder (an app on the smart phone will due), record as you sing the new part all the way through without looking at your music. (Bet you can hardly wait to hear this step!)
12. VERY IMPORTANT STEP Watch the music as you listen to your own recording to see if you sang the notes correctly. You should be wonderful. But, should you have any doubt, go back and check your part again on the master track. Concentrate on listening to the parts you circled earlier to be sure you have made corrections.