How to read music  (Page 3/6)

For this reason, most beginners who want to learn to read music accurately should get help from an experienced musician. If there is nobody available to help you learn to read music at this time, you might be better off concentrating on playing by ear until a teacher is available. I do make some suggestions below for those who have no choice, but there are a number of ways to enlist the help of others so that you can learn to read music correctly from the start:

Getting help from others

• Private lessons with a music teacher who plays your instrument and reads music well are the fastest, easiest, least frustrating way to learn to read music accurately.
• Classes such as "beginners' band" or "guitar class" involve less individual help for each student, so progress is usually slower. However, they usually cost much less than private lessons, and may even be free. Also, the social aspects of learning in a group and playing music with others can make classes more fun and less stressful than lessons for many beginning musicians. Classes may be available through a local music store, private music academy, community program, or philanthropic organization, as well as through school-based programs.
• If you do not have the time or money for a long-term commitment to lessons or classes , consider taking lessons or classes occasionally or for a short period when you have specific questions and goals and plenty of time to practice.
• If you cannot afford a professional music teacher , consider offering a smaller amount for more informal help from a non-professional musician who is experienced in reading music.
• If there is no teacher available on your instrument , a good music teacher who specializes in a different instrument can still be very helpful with basics such as music-reading, listening skills, and musicianship.
• If you are in an ensemble that includes music readers , they may be willing to help you, particularly if the help mainly involves occasional, specific questions. If you are not in an ensemble , consider looking for one that would welcome you.

Helping yourself

• If there is no way to get personalized help, try a book-with-recording or a video or online course . I don't have recommendations for a specific course. What you are looking for is a format that you find easy to understand, and that introduces pieces as both written music and audio recordings. Play along with the recording while looking at the written music. Actively search for the connections between what you are seeing and hearing. If you are learning how to play the instrument, make sure you use books intended for beginners. If you can already play, start with books, videos, or courses that introduce pieces that are interesting to you but not difficult.
• If you already play an instrument well and understand keys , you might prefer to study the sheet music to your favorite pieces, but be careful! Be aware that what you are seeing may not be the same as what you are hearing. For example, the written version of a popular song is often simpler than the way it is sung in well-known recordings.
• If you already know a little bit about reading music , or knew how to do it at one time, or are getting just a little bit of reading help from friends and band-mates, you may be able to use this course on Reading Music to answer specific questions, jog your memory, or build on what you already know.
• The distractions of reading and playing make it difficult to listen carefully at the same time, so make recordings of yourself and listen to them carefully, reading along with the music to see if the sound really matches the written music.