Learning to read music

[StrStruckDreamr9]

Posted: 5/20/05 at 6:27pm

I am interested in learning to read music. I don't want to master music theory or anything quite like that...just enough to read
sheet music. What should I do? I took piano a while ago. Would it help to just review that stuff?

[alphieboy]

Posted: 5/20/05 at 6:35pm

That have theroy workbooks that you can do to help yourself. Some colleges also ofer a Music Theroy class, if that would be helpful.

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 5/20/05 at 7:23pm

I've always heard, and speaking from personal experience, that one of the best ways to learn to "sight-read" is by singing in a choir. That's assuming of course that you're a singer, rather an instrumentalist.

[LilMiZBroADwaY23]

Posted: 5/20/05 at 10:15pm

Sight reading is actually quite simple. But I agree with Mother's younger brother. It is easier to learn if you are in a choir.

But definitley practice alone. I had a nasty surprise my first year of State Solo and Ensemble, when I sang begginer sight reading alone I was unprepared. But this year at intermediate I got a I, so practice does make perfect.

Just remember that little things like "All cars eat gas" "Fat cats go down alleys eating bubblegum" are your best friends.

[Broadway_Bound_Star]

Posted: 5/20/05 at 10:20pm

Well, I've been in band since I was in 4th grade, now i'm 28, so I would reccoment that being in band and choir would be the best way to learn, sight reading is REALLY hard for me, I can't do it too well lol

[pndmnd]

Posted: 5/20/05 at 10:31pm

I started taking piano when I was 3 1/2, so I don't really remember a time when I couldn't read music. I think if you've taken piano before, then you have a good base to start with. Try practicing that, and just practicing. You can pick up some beginner piano books, and if you want sight singing specifically, you can pick up some practice books at a music store. Just doing it will really help, though.

[StrStruckDreamr9]

Posted: 5/22/05 at 10:10pm

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I am in a choir, so this has helped me a little, but I still can't look at a note and say, "Oh, that sounds like this." I will check into the music theory books, though. Thank you!

[StrStruckDreamr9]

Posted: 5/22/05 at 10:10pm

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I am in a choir, so this has helped me a little, but I still can't look at a note and say, "Oh, that sounds like this." I will check into the music theory books, though. Thank you!

[Aigoo]

Posted: 5/22/05 at 10:13pm

That would be perfect pitch. The best way to develop that is to just sit at the piano and memorize the pitch. Relative pitch will help a lot, which is when you look at two notes and know the distance between them. I've been playing violin for about 4 years now, and I know the pitch of A440, which really helps a lot.