Learning to read music

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Music Teachers Chatboard

Learning to read music

by Ann

Oct 7, 2016

What are the best books/resources to teach a piano student how to read music? I've tried several things and haven't found something I like yet. What do you all use?

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Why a specific resource? I guess I don't understand why you would want a separate resource.

Whatever method book you are using is fine. It's more in how you present it than in what is on the page of the book.

DON'T present it in ways that actually hinder music reading - such as the old FACE and Every good boy does fine. Seriously, do you really want to be...See MoreI guess I don't understand why you would want a separate resource.

Whatever method book you are using is fine. It's more in how you present it than in what is on the page of the book.

DON'T present it in ways that actually hinder music reading - such as the old FACE and Every good boy does fine. Seriously, do you really want to be changing note naming systems every other note in a step wise passage? This kind of teaching strategy not only doesn't HELP music reading, but actually hinders. And it isn't even applicable in other clefs, for ledger lines, etc.

However, if you teach that it is all alphabetical, that works well. Give them a starting point - either C if that is where the book starts. Or the bottom line of each clef. Treble clef is easy. Bass clef is great. Alto clef is fantastic. (starting note E for easy, G for great, F for fantastic) Practice going up step wise, down step wise, practice recognizing skips in the context of the music already in their book. I'll bet the first pieces are all step wise motion. Later, they start skipping.

When they move to another key, the note reading strategies are still going to work. When they need to read another clef, the note reading strategies are still going to work.

I teach strings, so for me it's: Strategy #1 - Know the alphabet ABCDEFG start over; be able to say the alphabet of each string Strategy #2 - Memorize your starting points (for me it's open strings) Strategy #3 Upward and downward motion, add fingers to go up. Take off finger to go down. Strategy #4 Skips Violins - spaces are 0 or 2, lines are 1,3

We learn these strategies on the D and A strings first. When it is time to play on G, C and E strings it's not a whole new things to learn - it still works. Ledger lines - still works.

When it's time to begin shifting, they aren't stuck with the "wrong" fingers on each note. They still add fingers to go up, skips 13, etc. They just learn a new starting point.

When it's time for the viola player to play in treble clef or the cello player to read in tenor clef it's no big deal. Just adjust the starting point and use all the strategies you've already learned.

This can easily be adapted to piano as well.

Then, don't allow writing in letters. They can learn to read (and do you really have letters flying through your head when you play? Or are you really mostly "reading the shape"?)

Will also make transposing easy for your pianists if they have been taught to read properly.

On 10/07/16, Ann wrote: > What are the best books/resources to teach a piano student > how to read music? I've tried several things and haven't > found something I like yet. What do you all use?

Oct 7, 2016

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music app On 10/07/16, Ann wrote: > What are the best books/resources to teach a piano student > how to read music? I've tried several things and haven't > found something I like yet. What do you all use?

I fully agree with the other reply that was posted. (avoid FACE and just explain that it's the alphabet order)

But wanted to add...See More

Oct 25, 2016

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