i would really like to learn to play by ear. I’ve been playing piano for almost 8 years, but I always have sightread. Is there a certain technique on how I can play piano by ear? Thanks.
If you can listen to a music note and KNOW which piano key it is with very little or no guessing, then you should be able to learn to play by ear. If you can not "hear" which key it is without seeing it written, then you need to practice. Get ahold of some piano recordings of different tempo pieces. Start with the slower ones first. Listen to the notes, identify them and then try to play them. If you still have a piano teacher, ask him or her to make some recordings for you; or, if you have two pianos in the lesson room, ask him/her to play a note and have you identify and play it back. Once you have accomplished this then move on to series of notes.
I learned sightreading in choir. The technique above is how I was taught by my teacher to sing by ear. I can sing along with most songs before the song has finished the first time through and can definitely sing along with it the second time through if the words are written. Takes a few times to memorize it if the words are not written down.
Have fun!