Sight Reading Music

[richard_mac]

I can read music but I can't sight read. On all my music sheets I have to write the notes underneath. I can sight read my written notes why can't I read the "dots" ??? 😡

 

[spike]

just keep doin' it Rich, it'll come, but, you should maybe stop writing the notes underneath and force yourself to recognize the dots, you'll soon be able to remember the different shapes and patterns.

grus - spike

 

[jersey_mike]

you've got to stop writing in the notes. i used to do the very same thing. it helps you play the piece in front of you but it also is holding your progress back. as spike says, just keep doing it. it'll come along with time (like everything else relating to music and sax playing.)

 

[philthd]

the trouble with writing in the notes (other than it helping you be lazy) is that you start associating with the thought process
"that dot means this letter and this letter name equates to this fingering"
rather than just the direct relationship between what you see and what your fingers are doing.

i can look at a note and play it, or i can look at a note and name it, or i can name a note and play it but to me these are just such different thought processes that i cant do it all at once

maybe thats just me

 

[Rogerb]

My old brain is having lots of trouble with this.... I can play *relatively* well....or better!... by ear, but all the 'mental conversions' involved in reading....whew!

I've even tried a system of indicating how many and which keys to put down, just as an aid to going straight from dots to fingering... this has helped a bit.

But in the end it's what works for you, and more practice!

 

[therudest]

Just stop writing the letters...that's true....I have the other prob =) I have to think which note is it, written there, but I'm playin' it without any delay)...
But it passed away...almost =/.

It's all about reflexex =) U can't read the sheet music fast, till u got it on ur reflexes =)...

So my advice to you is to play scales, looking on those dots...just for a while, and it will form that "direct relationship between what you see and what your fingers are doing."
As philthD said)

Atleast it helped me to make it)

 

[suethesax]

When I started learning to read music (as an adult learner about 7 years ago), my teacher suggested I read the music at any time not just when I was playing. Then for each note I should tell myself what I knew about that note - the name, the realtive minor, the triad and so on. This method really helped me become fluent with sight reading (and also helped with more complex theory later on) I find that with everything the more you do the better you become. Keep on keepin' on and you will improve. Good luck.

 

[mfox]

sue's teacher has done a good job pointing her in the right direction.
i bet you can read the notes no problem, if you are asked whet a particular note is within the lines i bet you could get it right..
in my experience when people say they can't read music , what they really mean is they can't read the rhythm, after all that is what reading music is 99%.
writing the note letters under the notes will hold you back because you will only be looking for the letter and not the note length. after all is the letter G an 8 ,16, 32? and what letter do you use for a rest?
go back to basics get a tutor book for your level of playing(not your reading level)find a tune you actually know and work out how the tune is put together and apply to tunes you don't know.

hope this helps

 

[jambo]

I had this problem when I first started, and I wrote under the dots as you do.

the problem with doing that was when I rubbed the letters out and tried to play, I couldn't recognize the dots at all. This is because when notes are written there, your not concentrating on the dots at all, just on the letters. It just take practice.

Play tunes very slowly, or simply don't concentrate on rythem and different times and note ect at all... just do exercises and scales so you can get the dots/notes into your head.

At first you will be thinking and concentrating on every single note... but after a while it will become automatic and you fingers will just press the right buttons as your eyes scan across the music.

good Luck

 

[Saxlicker]

There is quite a distinct split here....
Wanting to improve your sight reading & wanting to learn a tune.

Think of it like this,
If you want to learn a tune and your not up to the level of sight reading you need to be at....write the notes under the dots.

If you want to learn to sight read....don't write the notes under the dots.

If its both...take the latar option because your enthusiam should be double and so will your gain be.

 

[richard_mac]

Thanks for all your help people. I think deep down I know I have to stop writing the notes down but it is so frustrating for me when I want to play a tune. Well I will start to learn to sight read, even if it will be slowly. I will keep you all upto date on my progress.
Once again, thanks.

Richard.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Richard Mac wrote:
Thanks for all your help people. I think deep down I know I have to stop writing the notes down but it is so frustrating for me when I want to play a tune. Well I will start to learn to sight read, even if it will be slowly. I will keep you all upto date on my progress.
Once again, thanks.

Richard.

You won't regret it. Hard work but well worth it.

 

[nick_cook]

I'm just learning music for the first time in my life (on the recorder until I get my sax). I'm going through a book which introduces the notes one at a time with various tunes to play as you progress.

At the moment, I just about forget what the note is straight away, but learn the finger postions from the note on the staff. Then when I'm playing a tune I know to add fingers if the note is beneath the previous one, or take them off if it's above the previous one!!!

Don't know if that's the right way to do it, but it seems to work for me!!!

 

[spike]

Nick,
You're doing it right when you look at the score and the right note pops out, without any conscious thought process. and it seems like that's what yer doing.

 

[tengu01]

Take it slowly. The best advice someone ever gave me. Skill is born of repetition and accuracy. Until you improve you do it slowly. As it becomes easier, you can speed up while maintaining accuracy.

What I found frustrating was being able to play advanced pieces by memory but getting completely flustered when the notes were placed in front of me.

Set up your metronome at a slow speed and take a tune you are unfamiliar with (so you don't feel the urge to cheat and play what you remember instead of what's on the page)

The "Eureka" moment comes when you suddenly spot the piece of music that is hiding in amongst the seemingly random notes.

It is a different skill which has to be developed but is well worth the effort. Am still trying to get to grips with it myself.

It's what seems to be working for me.