You and your teacher have chosen a new piece to learn, and you are expecting this to be a mid to long term project, say at least a few months.  It is useful to have a clear approach to learning this piece that will maximize your practice time.

To begin with, listen to several different recordings of the piece.  This will teach you many things about the piece, but in some ways more importantly, you will hear more than one particular interpretation of the music; we don’t want to be tied to any one performance as being the correct one.

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1. Repetition is critical if you want to learn to read music.

OK, not the most exciting form of learning in the world, but the simple fact is it works. Even as children we learn to speak through repeating our parents and the others around us. The more you read music notes (even if slowly), taking it in, ensuring you mull over the points made, again and again, visualising it in your head, the more it will stay in your brain…

Most of you have studied for exams by reviewing, and the first stage or two of learning to read music is much the same thing – BUT – take your time. Do not cram. Read small sections, and really take them in, concentrate on that small musical “phrase” and let it settle in the brain. You’ll start to ease it in to the subconscious quite easily this way, just the way top musicians do. They study music reading in small pieces and then proficiency comes all of a sudden.

 2. Visualize Music Notes and Musical Basics.

By breaking down subjects into similar groups (for example, particular music notes, the signs for different keys, different musical notation, basic music theory) you can learn their value and meaning very easily. But do this by using prompt cards, or even better, an online music reading course. If you’re going to use cards, here’s what to do:

Write down in large print, notes and their names, key signatures and so on, on one card each. Stack them in a pack, and turn each over one at a time. Concentrate of what you see, focus on its exact detail and meaning, take a mental snapshot of that card. Then move on to the next. The amazing part is that your mind quickly picks up on the information, even when you don’t realize it.    After doing this for several days, cover up the music note, or the time signature, or whichever you happen to be practicing, and try recognising and reciting the note without help. You’ll be suprised how much you retain. (Hint: to really speed up your learning to read music, integrate as many senses as possible… More to come in the next post)

3. Use “Dead” Time Studying Music Reading.

Do not over do it. You’ll get frustrated, tired and bored if you go at it too hard. Too many people try to learn to read music in an evening and after 3 or 4 solid hours of studing they’re burned out and their brain hurts! (Not to mention it’s not even an effective way to learn)

Put in 15-20 minutes per day studying your music notes, music theory and learning how to read music. Use 5 or 10 minutes ‘here or there’ between classes or on a break at work. Most people find this small amount of time each day, without disrupting other parts of their lives, and it means you get a good, regular session of learning.

Perhaps even more important than learning how to read music in the first place is retaining what you’re learning! Small but consistent amounts of time often will have far more retention benefits than a four hour cram!

Here’s a great lesson to help you learn to read music – it’s especially helpful for piano players and people who want to learn how to play piano. This video covers the names of the keys on the piano ranging from C to B as well as natural notes and accidentals. Also covered is what’s called “odd meter” meaning time signature in music (5/8 for example) that is not the traditional even number  (such as 4/4).

There’s also a very helpful fingering chart to help piano players know where to place their hands when learning how to read music.

• How to Read Music Notes
• 5 fundamentals to Learn to Read Music
• Why It Takes Most People So Long to Learn How to Read Music and How It Doesn’t Have to Be the Case
• The Number One Mistake Most People Make in Learning to Read Music
• Music Reading Strategies and Plans for Maximum Learning in Minimum Time
• How Flashcards and regular Music Reading Programs Actually Hold You Back

Of course music basics will be covered too, like:

• Treble Clef
• Bass Clef
• Tone/Pitch
• Tempo and Timing
• The Music Staff
• Notes & Rests

Well anyway, this is just a welcome post and we’ll get on with the first “Learn To Read Music Fast” Lesson in a few days!

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Now let’s look at the lines.  EGBDF.  It doesn’t spell a word, so we’ll have to make up a sentence to help remember these.  “Every Good Bird Does Fly” is a sentence that will help you remember the names of the music notes that land on the lines. While there are many other sentences (“Every Good Boy Does Fine” is a common one) that are used to remember the line notes, “Every Good Bird Does Fly” will help you remember that the music notes are ‘flying’ up the staff.

Practice!

Now that you know the names of the music notes, you’re moving down the ‘learn to read music’ road. Next you need to learn them well enough to say the letter name the instant you see the note on the staff. A common way to learn this is Flash Cards!  You can find music flash cards at music stores, online, or you can even make your own out of index cards – just make sure you double check the answers before you write them on the back. Flash cards are not a bad way to learn to read music, but there are often faster and more complete programs to help you learn to read music.

In Western music notation, the staff (plural is staves) is a set of five lines and four spaces, each of which represents a different pitch. Appropriate music symbols, depending upon the intended effect, are placed on the staff according to their corresponding pitch or function. Musical notes are placed by pitch, percussion notes are placed by instrument, and rests and other symbols are placed by convention.