Ear training is an essential part of musical training, and most musicians learn relative pitch through their coursework. Ear training serves musicians by helping them understand and learn new music quickly. It also increases an individual's musicality. Relative pitch can be particularly effective for composers who wish to translate what they hear in their heads into a musical score.
The first aural skill most musicians learn is interval recognition, meaning the musician can identify the distance between two notes. Intervals have a quality and size, such as a perfect fourth or a minor second. Musicians also learn to discern the differences between major and three common types of minor scales, as well as modes such as Aeolian and Mixolydian. Once intervals and scales are recognized, musicians may be able to identify types of chords based on the intervals they hear. Also, once given a starting pitch, musicians with relative pitch can sight-sing a piece of music or dictate a melody they hear.
Relative pitch helps musicians understand and perform music, and it helps musicians perceive, distinguish and perhaps recreate what they hear. Relative pitch can also help individuals who do not go through rigorous musical training. For example, amateur players who have good relative pitch can identify and perform chord progressions they hear. Relative pitch can be useful for musicians of all levels, as well as those interested in musicology or music theory.
Relative pitch ear training builds musicianship and gives a musician a better understanding of the music they wish to perform. Many musicians find relative pitch a useful skill; they are able to tune their instrument, hear and understand chord progressions, hear when a piece of music returns to the tonic, identify modulations from the tonic key, just to name a few significant advantages of acquiring relative pitch.
Relative pitch and its many facets are musical elements one needs to practice in order to become proficient. Playing common chord progressions often, for instance, will help an individual hear those progressions more easily. The more one practices relative pitch ear training, the easier it will become for that individual. Relative pitch is a very useful skill for a musician to possess.