6/01/2011

How to Learn to Read Music Like a Champ

By David Neuenschwander


In order to play music proficiently it is generally necessary to learn to read music, especially if the intent is to play or sing with other musicians. At first glance sheet music appears complex and confusing. However, it is not really hard to learn how to read music. Like all new subjects it takes time and effort to learn what music symbols and notations represent.

Sheet music is simply a visual representation of sound; the notes and symbols on the page show a musician the way to reproduce the musical piece sound by voice or with their instrument. Written music (or musical drawn out on a staff) enables those who read music to play or sing a tune in the same manner. Reading music is the manner in which musicians to literally "see" which notes will produce particular pitches, and when combined, produce certain tunes.

Musical instruments can produce a significant range of sounds; in musical language low pitch tones are called bass and higher pitch tones are called treble. For any given instrument, the sheet music may represent only bass notes (cello for instance), only treble notes (violin for example) or both (piano and organ). Depending on your particular instrument, your music will be written as notes on either the bass clef, treble clef or both. Bass instrument players learn the bass (or F) clef, and those who play treble instruments learn the treble clef, while organ and piano players must learn both clefs.

One of the most versatile or instruements is the human voice which is capable of reaching very high and very low notes. The range of notes a particular singer can hit determines if his or her music would be notated on the bass or treble clef.

In music every symbol and notation has meaning. To be more specific, both symbols and notations are used to guide the pace the musician should maintain, which measures (also called bars) should be repeated, which notes should be held and which should be staccato (short and sharp) and the dynamics of the music, which is the volume of playing.

Every note has an letter of the alphabet assigned to it; one octave consists of A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. A staff cointains 4 spaces and 5 horizontal lines. Notes are written on both the lines as well as the spaces. There are a few techniques to make learning the notes on the lines and spaces faster and easier.

To memorize the 5 lines of the treble clef, use use the acronym: Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge because the notes are EGDBF. The four spaces of the treble clef from the bottom spell FACE. The bass clef starting from the bottom line with the acronym: Good Boys Do Fine Always because the notes are GBDFA; in addition, the four spaces of the bass clef can be learned by repeating 'All Cows Eat Grass' because the notes are ACEG.

Don't let the seeming complexity of reading music intimidate you. With a bit of consistent studying you can learn to read music like a master. Many rewards await you because of your work and your willingness to take your musical learning seriously.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment