The best way to train?

[apex sound]

I'm new to EarMaster and diggin it so far, but I'm curious about the best practice techniques to maximize my time and get the most out of my lessons.

I'm on the first interval lessons now, and the 3rds and 6ths seem to be giving me the most trouble, so I've been using my keyboard to figure out some of the intervals before answering the questions.

Am I "cheating" my way through it by using an instrument, or should I not use an instrument and get my ear accustomed to the sounds, colors and feel of the tones?

TIA!

[Quentin]

This is just a trial and error technique, this is not cheating. As soon as your ear will get accustomed to the sound of these intervals, you will feel that you don't need to try to find them on the keyboard first any longer.

[northspoon1]

Agreed. On some of the tougher interval training sessions, I am also using the keyboard to figure out the answer. Then, once I'm comfortable with that particular session - I just go back and re-test myself (using 'Restart Lesson')- and only by listening this time (no keyboard). I find that using the keyboard when I get stuck avoids a lot of the frustration - and keeps me progressing at a nice pace. The good thing is that you can always re-test on any lesson - and even make the lessons tougher by using the 'custom' exercises....which are a loooong way away for me at this time. But - I'll get there. Hey - whatever keeps the stress down and keeps it fun, while still learning - works for me. Good luck!