IFR blog > Practice tips > Developing your ear > Understanding any piece of music by ear
IFR improvisation exercise with the chromatic scale on trumpet

Alvar Monfort demonstrates the IFR 'Staircase' exercise on the trumpet with jazz phrasing.

IFR improvisation exercise 'Seven Worlds' on flute

For IFR students practicing Exercise 2: Melody, this is a demonstration of the exercise Seven Worlds in the 4th harmonic environment. Ferran Badal explores the harmonic environment on the alto flute.

IFR exercise "Seven Worlds Expanded" on clarinet

For IFR students practicing Exercise 3: Pure Harmony, this is a demonstration of the exercise Seven Worlds Expanded on the clarinet. Imma Udina demonstrates the exercise exploring the 4 chord in the modal range.

Cloud exercise for bass

In this free video lesson, I show you the first step in the IFR method for bass. The exercise is called "Cloud" and it teaches you to visualize all of the notes on the neck of your bass as one continuous chain of half steps.

Piano for Non-Pianists 1

'Piano for Non-Pianists' is our free lesson series where everyone learns basic piano. This course teaches musicians of all instruments how they can expand their creative practice to include the piano.

IFR Playalong: 5th harmonic environment

Grab your instrument and practice improvising in the 5th harmonic environment with me!

Have I Told You Lately

Van Morrison's memorable ballad "Have I Told You Lately" is made from just five chords of the major scale. This is a great example of the wide variety of moods and creative possibilities that we find in the sounds of Pure Harmony.

Melody Paths with 6-, 5D, 4, -3

In this video we will sing Melody Paths together across the chord progression 6-, 5D, 4, 3-. This progression goes down in scale degrees, using only natural chords from the major scale, so we are not introducing any notes or chords from outside the key.

Video course vs. chord melody workshop

I'm just getting started in IFR. Can you explain the difference between the IFR Video Course for Guitar and the IFR Chord Melody Workshop? Should I take one before the other?

IFR video lesson: Build the Map

In this video I'll show you two fantastic exercises for beginners to the IFR method. These two exercises will greatly accelerate your ability to visualize the notes of any key on your instrument.