Order Your Copy Of The Musicality Book Today!

And Discover How You Too Can Learn Music Like A Gifted Prodigy, Unlock Your Instinct For Music, And Unleash Your Inner Natural.

This groundbreaking new book reveals the secrets, frameworks and step-by-step methods you need to master every essential skill and topic in modern musicality. This is the “Missing Manual” that every musician should have been handed on day one of learning music.

 A valuable, meaningful and important text that will be a beacon for musicians for years to come."​

​— Tim Topham, Top Music

The world’s greatest musicians have always seemed like a rare breed.

Whether it’s the child prodigy who masters instruments and new music ultra-fast…

The creative genius who can conjure up incredible-sounding music on-the-fly with zero apparent effort, and write songs that are remembered for generations…

Or the campfire hero who can sit with any group, any time, and nail any song that’s called out, with no sheet music in sight.

It’s easy to see why society reveres these “natural” musicians as having a special talent or gift.

Meanwhile, the average music learner desperately struggles with an endless variety of books, videos, courses, and music lessons…

And even after years–or even decades–spent working hard at daily practice…

Most eventually sadly accept that they just don’t have what it takes, and will only ever be an “okay” hobbyist.

Still, their passion for music burns strong, keeping them devoted, and keeping some hope alive that one day they could crack it…

If only they could discover how those greats do what they do.

Now, after 15+ years pioneering new methods with adult learners of all kinds, one organisation has finally cracked the “talent code” and discovered exactly the down-to-earth, practical methods which lie underneath all these near-mystical abilities.

​For the first time, these long-hidden secrets are being revealed in a single book, designed to peel back the curtain, demystify “talent”, and equip you with everything you need to know to unlock your natural talent in music.

Introducing...

THE

Musicality

Book

How You Too Can Learn Music Like A Gifted Prodigy, Unlock Your Instinct For Music, And Unleash Your Inner Natural

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Urna risus suscipit bibendum massa tortor. Mattis phasellus pharetra felis ut sagittis. Semper velit faucibus magnis morbi viverra. Eu ultrices aenean erat ac cras non pellentesque est molestie. Semper velit faucibus magnis morbi viverra. Eu ultrices aenean erat ac cras non pellentesque est molestie.

John Doe

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Urna risus suscipit bibendum massa tortor. Mattis phasellus pharetra felis ut sagittis. Semper velit faucibus magnis morbi viverra. Eu ultrices aenean erat ac cras non pellentesque est molestie. Semper velit faucibus magnis morbi viverra. Eu ultrices aenean erat ac cras non pellentesque est molestie.

John Doe

Reader Photos

About The Book

The Musicality book was written with one aim in mind: to share everything we’ve learned through working with over 36,000 music learners of all kinds here at Musical U, and reveal exactly what will unlock your true musical potential.

From beginners through to professionals and teachers…

From the rock guitarist, to the jazz pianist, to the mountain dulcimer folk player, and everything in between…

And from age 16 through to 90+ years old…

We’ve discovered and developed a set of simple frameworks for every aspect of musicality.

So whether your musical dream is playing extensive and impressive repertoire note-perfect on stage, holding audiences spellbound…

Conjuring up your own beautiful music through improvisation, songwriting or composing…

​Or you want to be able to jump in and jam along, any time, any place, and fit right in…

The Musicality book is jam-packed with all the information, explanations, and methods you need to transform the way you learn, and finally start feeling like the natural musician you’ve always known deep down you were born to be.

The Reviews Are In...!

"The perfect book for the frustrated musician"

The perfect book for the frustrated musician

"My first theory book that isn't boring!"

My first theory book that isn't boring!

"The Book" on Musicality

"The Book" on Musicality

"Awesome book!"

Awesome book!

"The mystery is solved!"

The mystery is solved!

"Explanations are so clear that I lost track of the number of pages."

Explanations are so clear that I lost track of the number of pages.

"Tons of Information"

Tons of Information

"Fantastic book - a must have for anyone looking to become more musical!"

Famtastic book - a must have for anyone looking to become more musical!

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Urna risus suscipit bibendum massa tortor. Mattis phasellus pharetra felis ut sagittis. Semper velit faucibus magnis morbi viverra. Eu ultrices aenean erat ac cras non pellentesque est molestie.

Jane Doe

Opera Singer | Establishment

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Urna risus suscipit bibendum massa tortor. Mattis phasellus pharetra felis ut sagittis. Semper velit faucibus magnis morbi viverra. Eu ultrices aenean erat ac cras non pellentesque est molestie.

Jane Doe

Opera Singer | Establishment

Brought To You By Musical U

Musical U is the leading provider of musicality training online, specialising in helping adult musicians learn the “inner skills” which unlock your innate instinct for music.

Our training has been used by 35,000+ musicians across all instruments, styles and ages, and has been rated 4.8 stars across hundreds of public Google, Facebook and TrustPilot reviews.

Our award-winning material has been featured in The New York Times, Classic FM, Total Guitar Magazine, Making Music Magazine, and a whole host of podcasts and other media platforms, reaching over 14 million music learners since 2009.

The Musical U team consists of a small group of passionate musicians and music educators with well over 100 years of shared teaching experience and a devotion to this overlooked-but-vital topic of musicality.

 An incredible resource."

— David Reed, Improvise For Real

What’s Inside

Here’s a chapter-by-chapter preview of what you’ll find inside in the book.

Introduction

In the introduction you’ll learn about where this book came from, the extensive experience of the full Musical U team, and author Christopher Sutton’s own journey from frustrated music-learner to discovering how to unlock his own true musical potential through musicality training. 

You’ll also get guidance on how best to go through the book, depending on your personal goals and priorities.

PART 1

In Part I we cover six
fundamental topics and skills.

These are the foundation on which everything else is built. Get these right, and everything else will flow easily. Without these, everything you do in music will be far harder and slower than it needs to be.

musicality

We begin by exploring what “musicality” means. We all have some understanding of what’s implied by that word, and what it means to “be very musical” or “have great musicality”. But if we are to develop our own musicality we need to define what exactly we mean by that word, and the specific ingredients which contribute to having greater or more advanced musicality.

Through sharing a range of definitions from a variety of musicians and music educators, we paint a picture of what “musicality” can be. This is then distilled down into 15 specific skills, ranging from playing by ear, through having good rhythm, singing in tune, creating your own music, reading notation, understanding music theory and more.

We introduce the concepts of “The Complete Musician”, 3 Musical Cores, and the H4 Model of Complete Musicality, equipping you with an easy and precise way to both assess your current musicality, and define exactly what your ideal future musicality would be.​

  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.

musical mindset

It’s clear from working with tens of thousands of adult music learners that developing the right mindset for music-learning is one of the highest-leverage things you can focus on. The average adult learner is constantly tripping themselves up with limiting beliefs, misconceptions, and wide-ranging lack of clarity about their musical journey. With the right set of mindsets, anything becomes possible for you.

In this chapter you’ll set your “Big Picture Vision” which becomes your North Star, guiding everything you do in your music learning going forwards. You’ll discover the four Pillar Beliefs which run through everything we do and teach at Musical U, and how each one of them can empower you as a musician. We debunk the “talent myth” once and for all, to make sure you know with certainty that anything you’ve dreamed of in music can indeed be possible for you. And we introduce four special mindsets you can adopt, which each remove blockers and limitations, and ensure you keep moving forwards quickly and joyfully in your music learning.

  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.

audiation

The first of the practical skills we cover is Audiation, the ability to vividly imagine music in your mind’s ear. When you can conjure up clear and detailed music in your head, it becomes a powerful and versatile tool to be used throughout your musical life.

In this chapter you’ll learn about this important skill, the myriad ways it helps you in different areas of music, its connection to musical memory and to singing, and you’ll learn the three “Levels” of Audiation ability and how you can develop each in turn.

  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.

singing

Singing is every human’s “first instrument” and although most musicians don’t necessarily consider themselves “a singer” and the prospect of singing can stir up a lot of emotional resistance, we’ve found that singing is a universal accelerator for your music learning. Fortunately, there is no need to become the next Pop Idol superstar! The level of singing ability required to reap the significant benefits is far lower than you might imagine.

In this chapter we present the four reasons you might currently think you “can’t sing” or are even “tone deaf”, and walk you through a clear and simple series of exercises to start getting comfortable with using your singing voice “as a tool”. You’ll learn to comfortably, confidently and reliably sing in tune, so that you can start using singing throughout your music learning to improve your results and bring musical ideas out from inside you directly.

  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.

active listening

The next foundational skill is Active Listening, the ability to dissect and decipher music you hear, understanding each component and how they all fit together. Beyond simple “music appreciation”, active listening lets you actually understand everything you’re hearing. 

When you develop this skill, music comes to life in a whole new way. Not only can you increase your musicality solely through listening to music, you enhance your ability to create, play and perform music yourself.

In this chapter you’ll learn more about the benefits of Active Listening and the simple approach we’ve developed, of “Listening with a question in mind”, along with the 4-Dimensional Active Listening™️ framework, which makes it easy to analyse any music you hear in as much depth and detail as you wish. Through a series of exercises and question lists, you’ll be guided through practicing Active Listening using any music you are learning, or even your favorite tracks.

  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.

superlearning

Over the past 20 years, the academic research into the neuroscience of learning has proven conclusively that seemingly-gifted musicians who learn significantly faster than everyone else are simply practicing in a different way.

In this chapter you’ll be introduced to the specific Superlearning techniques for music practice which let you learn and memorise music at up to 10 times the normal speed. These are often strange and even counter-intuitive, but when you start to practice in this way you can make dramatically faster progress, with even less practice time. These techniques work for absolutely anybody, and once you’ve adopted this very different way of practicing, it will accelerate everything you work on in music, for the rest of your life.

  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.

PART 2

In Part II we explore the process of ear training and introduce a set of “building blocks” you can use to rapidly develop your musical ear.

As you gain proficiency with these building blocks, leveraging the fundamental skills covered in Part I, you will unlock all the skills explored in Part III of the book.

ear training

The phrase “ear training” comes with a lot of baggage for most musicians, and even those who’ve studied the topic at university or conservatory level and passed all the requirements still typically report dissatisfaction and disappointment with what they’re actually able to do with their musical ear.

In this chapter we present the Integrated Ear Training™️ approach which not only lets you develop concrete skills faster and more enjoyably, it also ensures that every step forwards you take in ear training results in real, practical abilities you can benefit from in your everyday musical life.

  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.

relative pitch

Relative Pitch is an approach to pitch based entirely on the relationships between different pitches - from note to note, or relating to the key. Everything pitch-related that you might want to do by ear can be done by developing your sense of Relative Pitch, including naming or playing notes and chords by ear, choosing notes when improvising, transcribing music by ear, and more.

In this chapter we cover the difference between Relative Pitch and Absolute (or “Perfect”) Pitch and how Relative Pitch enables you to accomplish anything pitch-related you want to. We introduce the idea of a “pitch contour” and explore how the three building blocks covered in subsequent chapters allow you to refine this contour by recognising notes and chords by ear. Finally we explain a step-by-step process for finding the key of any song or piece of music by ear.

  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.

solfa

Solfa, also known as “solfege” or the do-re-mi system for naming notes isn’t just some cute idea from The Sound of Music! In fact, it’s a way of thinking about the notes of the scale which perfectly matches how the ear naturally hears musical pitches.

In this chapter we explore the benefits of solfa, how it works, and provide a learning sequence and set of exercises you can use to gradually develop a robust ability to recognise notes by ear and produce them with your voice or on your instrument.

  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.

intervals

Although intervals are often where musicians start with ear training, they are in fact one of the most challenging and confusing topics, when taught in the traditional way.

In this chapter we’ll introduce a simple and natural way to approach learning interval recognition, explore how it relates to and can be combined with solfa, and present a learning sequence and set of exercises you can use to gradually develop a robust ability to recognise different intervals in music.

  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.

chordS AND progressionS

Intervals and Solfa can both be used directly to help you recognise chords and chord progressions by ear, but dedicating some attention specifically to developing your ear for harmony will produce much faster progress.

In this chapter we’ll explore the topic of chord progressions from a Relative Pitch perspective, relating it to our Solfa and Interval building blocks, and covering the most common chord progressions and how to start recognising and playing them by ear.

  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.

the beat

Underlying all musical rhythm is the beat, or pulse of the music. Musicians tend to take this for granted, but that frequently results in a weak connection to the beat, or an inaccurate ability to keep the beat.

In this chapter we’ll explore different ways of connecting with the beat, so that you have a reliable “inner metronome” and accurate ability to synchronise with, or create your own, musical beat.

  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.

rhythm

A musician’s ear for rhythm is typically more capable by default than their pitch skills. For example, more musicians can clap back a rhythm they hear than could sing back or name a series of note pitches they heard. However, rhythmic accuracy, and an ability to deeply understand and be creative with rhythm is a significant part of what sets a great performance apart from a mediocre one.

In this chapter we’ll explore both the “beat counting” and “rhythm syllables” approaches to developing your rhythmic abilities, enabling you to sight-read rhythmic notation easily, transcribe rhythmic patterns you hear, and tune in to your instinct for rhythmic creativity.

  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.

PART 3

In Part III of the book we use the foundational skills and building blocks from Parts I and II to enable several musical abilities typically associated only with “talented” or “gifted” musicians:

improvising freely and creatively, playing music entirely by ear, writing or composing your own distinctive and satisfying music, playing with powerful expression, and performing in a way that connects deeply with your audience.

Improvisation

Musical creativity is mysterious to many, and often over-romanticised, making it hard to know whether you have “what it takes” to be creative, or how to develop your musical creativity. Perhaps the epitome of this is improvisation, being able to conjure up your own great-sounding music on-the-fly. The traditional methods of teaching improvisation based on strict rules and patterns, or memorised “vocabulary” provide the illusion of creativity but result in same-y sounding solos and little of the self-expression and fulfilment that truly free improvisation can provide.

In this chapter you’ll be introduced to the Expansive Creativity™️ framework for unlocking your natural creativity. Through the concepts of “Constraints and Dimensions” and musical “Playgrounds” you’ll be able to gradually start expressing your own musical ideas, sounding great and feeling creative from day one, and leading to total musical freedom. With the “Play-Listen / Listen-Play” feedback loop you’ll become your own best teacher, letting you have fun improving your improvising day by day.

  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.

Playing by Ear

Relative Pitch is an approach to pitch based entirely on the relationships between different pitches - from note to note, or relating to the key. Everything pitch-related that you might want to do by ear can be done by developing your sense of Relative Pitch, including naming or playing notes and chords by ear, choosing notes when improvising, transcribing music by ear, and more.

In this chapter we cover the difference between Relative Pitch and Absolute (or “Perfect”) Pitch and how Relative Pitch enables you to accomplish anything pitch-related you want to. We introduce the idea of a “pitch contour” and explore how the three building blocks covered in subsequent chapters allow you to refine this contour by recognising notes and chords by ear. Finally we explain a step-by-step process for finding the key of any song or piece of music by ear.

  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.

Song Writing

To write a song that stands the test of time - or even something you wouldn’t mind letting other people hear - can seem out of reach to the average music learner. Our love and reverence for the great songwriters and composers of history can make it seem futile to even try to write something ourselves. And yet, if you’ve ever dreamed of writing your own music, you’ll know it’s a dream that is hard to ever let go of!

Building on the same Expansive Creativity™️ framework introduced for improvisation, and introducing song-specific concepts such as lyrics and musical form, in this chapter you’ll be led step-by-step through writing your first music and learn to gradually develop and refine your creations into something uniquely yours and which you’re proud to share.

  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.

Expression

We all know the difference between a dry, robotic, lifeless performance, and music that’s played truly expressively, moving the listener with each and every note. Or do we? What exactly does it mean to “play with expression” - and how can you learn to do it?

In this chapter we’ll use the same 4-Dimensional framework introduced for Active Listening to practice shaping a note and series of notes in each of the possible ways. You’ll develop your ear’s sophistication for appreciating and understanding the expressive choices being made in music you hear. And you’ll also develop your own instinctive ability to make those same choices on-the-fly any time you play or perform. You will learn to understand and speak the “language of emotion” in music, empowering you to play with deep, moving, personal expressiveness.

  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.

Performance

What does it take to put on a truly memorable and moving musical performance? We know it’s more than just overcoming stage fright and managing to play “the right notes”, but it can be hard to get further than that.

In this chapter you’ll be introduced to the “3 C’s” of the Performance Free-Flow™️ framework which enable you to connect deeply with the music, with your instrument, with other musicians and with your audience. All spellbinding performances are making use of each of these three C’s: Connection, Conversation and Creativity. Through simple ideas and exercises, you will develop your own skills with each of these, and discover how to put on spellbinding performances of your own, each and every time.

  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.
  • Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Malesuada volutpat cursus quam lectus. Dignissim dui et iaculis sem dictumst.

conclusion

We wrap things up with a recap of what’s been covered, and suggest a process you can use to continually review and improve your musicality going forwards, moving you closer and closer to your musical dreams each day.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Urna risus suscipit bibendum massa tortor. Mattis phasellus pharetra felis ut sagittis. Semper velit faucibus magnis morbi viverra. Eu ultrices aenean erat ac cras non pellentesque est molestie. Semper velit faucibus magnis morbi viverra. Eu ultrices aenean erat ac cras non pellentesque est molestie.

John Doe

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Urna risus suscipit bibendum massa tortor. Mattis phasellus pharetra felis ut sagittis. Semper velit faucibus magnis morbi viverra. Eu ultrices aenean erat ac cras non pellentesque est molestie. Semper velit faucibus magnis morbi viverra. Eu ultrices aenean erat ac cras non pellentesque est molestie.

John Doe

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Urna risus suscipit bibendum massa tortor. Mattis phasellus pharetra felis ut sagittis. Semper velit faucibus magnis morbi viverra. Eu ultrices aenean erat ac cras non pellentesque est molestie.

Jane Doe

Opera Singer | Establishment

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Urna risus suscipit bibendum massa tortor. Mattis phasellus pharetra felis ut sagittis. Semper velit faucibus magnis morbi viverra. Eu ultrices aenean erat ac cras non pellentesque est molestie.

Jane Doe

Opera Singer | Establishment

Peek Inside

Watch This Flip-Through Video To Peek Inside The Book!

In this series of episodes on our podcast and YouTube series Musicality Now, author Christopher Sutton brings you inside the book, sharing excerpts from various chapters and some behind-the-scenes info on the book’s development:

 With this comprehensive yet accessible book Christopher Sutton heartfully guides us into the new era of musicianship, where practice and performance alike can be realms of genius-level play and excellence.

The H4 model alone makes this book worth reading.

By debunking common myths - and providing models of "superlearning" music practice, accessing one's innate talent, and addressing the true fundamentals of musicianship, this much-needed book can guide anybody to greater enjoyment and effectiveness in their musical journey."

— Mars Gelfo, creator of the Modacity practice app

Frequently-Asked Questions

Q: What instrument is this book for? Will it make sense and be useful if I play ____?

The “inner skills” of musicality are as universal as music itself. We’ve developed our frameworks and ways of explaining these topics with musicians playing everything from classical violin through to jazz piano, rock guitar, blues harmonica, and mountain dulcimer, as well as singers, songwriters, scratch DJs and producers.

If you’ve yearned for a deeper, more instinctive understanding of “how music works”, as well as the concrete skills to be able to recognise notes and chords by ear, create your own great-sounding music, learn instruments and repertoire ultra-fast, and perform in a powerful way, then this book is for you.

Q: Is this suitable for complete beginners?

Yes! In fact, we believe it is a book which any music-learner would benefit greatly from being handed on day one of learning music.

​You do not need to have previously studied music theory, learned notation, or be playing an instrument to understand and benefit from all the material in this book.

Q: I’ve already studied theory and done ear training. Will this add anything new?

The approaches and frameworks contained in this book are unlike anything else out there.

We consistently find that musicians who come to us at Musical U are struck by the uniqueness of our approach, and the dramatic difference compared with the way “theory” and “ear training” are traditionally taught. It also provides a comprehensive, holistic view on your entire musical identity, which lets everything work together far more effectively. 

As you’ll discover in Chapter 1, we aim to help you develop your Head, Hands, Hearing and Heart, as well as the connections between them. This produces a “Complete Musicality” that any cobbled-together assortment of books, courses or lessons rarely can deliver.

Even musicians who’ve been learning for decades, teaching for years, or playing at the highest professional levels have been delighted to find that what we teach fills in a massive “missing piece” for them.

​And even if you are a Musical U devotee who has completed our entire Living Music program and its continuation The Fountain, studied our Superlearning courses, and attended every masterclass for years, we guarantee you will still find fresh ideas, exercises, and valuable new techniques in the pages of this new book.

Q: How is this different to a theory book?

The short answer is that music theory is typically taught as a dry, abstract topic, quite separate from the music itself.

We approach music theory from a “descriptive” rather than “prescriptive” approach, meaning that instead of it being a set of rules and facts to be obeyed, it is merely a useful set of conventions for describing how music actually works.

By combining the theoretical information with practical exercises, and connecting the “Head” directly with your “Hands”, “Hearing” and “Heart”, the theory comes to life and has immediate positive effect on what you can actually do in music. 

​In other words, we weave theory into your overall musicality in a way that feels natural, intuitive, and highly practical.

Q: How will this help me?

The primary aim of the book is to utterly demystify everything relating to musicality and music learning, so that you’re able to reach your true musical potential and achieve your musical dreams.

The exact benefits it delivers are going to be as varied and unique as the musicians who read it, as we firmly believe there are no “one size fits all” solutions in music, and each musician is coming with their own background, prior knowledge and abilities, passions, and aspirations.

The foundational skills in Part I will have a positive effect throughout your musical life. For example, adopting the Superlearning techniques in Chapter 6 will permanently and dramatically accelerate how quickly you master your instrument, learn to play new repertoire, and memorise and retain the music you’ve learned. Discovering how to leverage your singing voice “as a tool” makes everything ear-related easier. Starting to practice Active Listening enhances your awareness and understanding of all the music you hear and play.

The “building blocks” and ear training techniques covered in Part II will be of great benefit to any musician who’s worried they don’t have a “good ear” or has yearned to be able to just hear music (in their head or in the real world) and instantly know what the notes, chords and rhythms are.

Then, the Part III chapters are highly practical. Whether you want to play by ear, improvise, write music, play with expression, or perform in a powerful way, the dedicated chapter on each will make it clear and easy to level up in those abilities.

​Just like everything we do at Musical U, the book is designed to be flexible to meet your needs and interests. You do not need to read every chapter, or even read the chapters in order. You’ll find guidance early in the book to know which chapters to focus on, to help you develop into the musician you’ve dreamed of being.

Q: How is this different to other Musical U products?

Well, we’ve never written a book before! :)

The concepts, frameworks, and ways of teaching these topics and skills have all been developed over the past 15 years, as we’ve developed apps, ebooks, interactive albums, training modules, courses, and 1-to-1 coaching methodology.

If you’re a keen member of Musical U, a lot of what’s mentioned in the book will be familiar to you, but everything has been updated, expanded, and adapted to suit the format, and you’ll find plenty of juicy new information inside. 

We haven’t held anything back. Anything and everything we thought could be usefully included in book form is packed into this epic tome. Our aim is to give you everything you could need to know in a handy reference you can keep within arm’s reach.

Naturally, there are also advantages to interactive, multimedia training, such as our membership and courses, and there’s no match for personal 1-to-1 coaching such as our Next Level program. 

The book was written to stand alone, and be highly valuable and useful to any musician, even if they never choose to do any further training with us–as well as being an indispensable new companion for everything we offer at Musical U.​

Order Your Copy Today!

Just by picking up your copy of Musicality you will take a massive leap forwards, putting you ahead of 99% of musicians out there.

You’ll finally understand exactly how the all-time greats do what they do - AND how you too can master those same impressive skills.

​Whether you’ve dreamed of:

  • Playing anything and everthing, entirely by ear…

  • Improvising your own incredible music, on the fly, in any situation…
  • Writing beautiful music that’s meaningful to you, and loved by listeners…
  • Holding audiences spellbound with note-perfect, moving performances…
  • Connecting more deeply with your passion for music, and finally living up to the musical potential you knew you had deep inside…

… this book holds all the answers you’ve been seeking.

Featuring:

  • Part I: Learn the foundational skills which will benefit you throughout your musical life.
  • Part II: Master all 5 “building blocks” which unlock recognising pitches and rhythms entirely by ear.
  • Part III: Discover exactly how you too can do anything and everything that most people assume requires a natural-born “talent” or “gift”.

Packed with unique, proven frameworks and techniques developed over 15+ years helping 35,000+ adult music learners across all instruments and styles of music. It’s all in here, we’ve held nothing back.

This premium 800+ page hardcover book is written in a “Choose your own adventure” style so that you can dip in and out, focusing only on the things which matter most to you.

Price: $49.95

© Musical U, All Rights Reserved. Need help? Email: support@musical-u.com