Most Musicians Practice Their Hands — Here’s Why Charlotte Adams Says You Should Be Training Your Ears First

The gap between a musician who plays technically correctly and one who plays musically almost always comes down to the same thing — the ability to truly hear what is happening in the music and respond to it in real time. Charlotte Adams is a guitarist and music educator at Limitless Guitar who joins Stacey Chillemi to make the case for ear training and intentional listening as the most underinvested skill in most musicians’ development. What she shares about what aural skills actually are and why developing them changes everything about the way you experience and create music, the specific practices that build the kind of intentional listening that takes your musical journey to a completely different level, and how training your ear transforms both your playing and your relationship with music will give you the most practically eye-opening and immediately actionable musical skill development conversation you have encountered. You have been practicing what your hands do. This episode is about training what your ears hear — and why that changes everything. Plus, Charlotte is generously offering two free courses exclusively for our listeners. Sign up on her website at to access these valuable resources today! The podcast features a conversation between Stacey Chillemi and Charlotte Adams, discussing the importance of cultivating listening skills to enhance musical talent. Charlotte emphasizes the need to focus on melody and notes and develop a deep connection with the music being played. She highlights the significance of immersing oneself in the sound and letting it guide the playing rather than solely focusing on mechanics. They stress the joy and fulfillment of playing music and encourage listeners to enjoy the process without setting strict time constraints. The conversation underscores the idea that playing music should be a joyful and immersive experience, where frustration and joy are part of the journey. Charlotte also mentions resources for further ear training and support in developing musical skills.  LEARNINGS: Is good musicianship acquired or born? The podcast discusses whether good musicianship is acquired or born. How can one cultivate their listening skills? Charlotte emphasizes cultivating listening skills before picking up an instrument and developing them further. What is the importance of melody in music? The podcast highlights the importance of focusing on melody in music and how it can improve playing. What is the role of mechanics versus listening in learning to play the guitar? The podcast discusses the balance between focusing on mechanics and listening when learning to play the guitar. How can one enjoy the process of learning to play an instrument? Charlotte suggests setting aside expectations, immersing oneself in the music, and enjoying learning to play an instrument. Become a supporter of this podcast: . Follow The Advisor with Stacey Chillemi for weekly episodes on mindset, wellness, spirituality, and business growth—without burnout. Newsletter & resources: https://substack.com/@staceychillemi Watch & connect: • • Be a guest/sponsor: [email protected] • or Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices