Which of the following best defines "audiation"?

The concept of "audiation" is best captured by the ability to hear and understand music mentally. This term was popularized by music educator Edwin Gordon, who emphasized that audiation involves not just hearing music but being able to conceive of it internally, imagining the sound without the need for physical sound production. It encompasses the understanding of musical structures, rhythms, and tonalities, effectively allowing a person to process and manipulate music in their mind.

This definition highlights the cognitive aspects of music comprehension, where one can mentally hear a melody, understand harmony, and even anticipate musical developments without requiring external auditory stimuli. The other choices, while related to music skills, do not capture the essence of audiation as a mental processing capability. For instance, playing music by ear focuses on physical execution, singing in tune emphasizes vocal skills, and improvising revolves around creative expression rather than the mental hearing of music.