Sheet Music

McHaffie · Post by **McHaffie** » Thu Feb 20, 2003 1:03 pm

Ok, I already posted a similar message on a different topic, but I'm going ahead and asking for HELP here too.

Very embarassing

, but does anyone know of a good tutor program or website that teaches how to read sheet music?

I can only read very slowly (with the old EGBDF method from elementary school!) and I don't know what all the symbols, slides etc mean. Not all of them anyway.

I've always just picked up a new instrument, fiddled around a little bit, and played entirely by ear. It's nice, but I would love to be able to come into the middle of a session, look at the sheet music people have laying about, and play right along ya know?

Anyway, I appreciate any help, and all "rag-ons" are fully accepted at my not being able to read it!

Take care all,
John

Zubivka · Post by **Zubivka** » Thu Feb 20, 2003 1:39 pm

Fantastic source for the basics and more, with printable documents, downloadable Javascript tutorials :
http://www.musictheory.net/

Ridseard · Post by **Ridseard** » Thu Feb 20, 2003 1:57 pm

I've never seen sheet music at Irish trad, bluegrass, or old time sessions.

Redwolf · Post by **Redwolf** » Thu Feb 20, 2003 2:09 pm

The Bill Ochs tutor (the one produced for Clarke's) gives a good rundown of the basics. All you really need to know is the treble clef (EGBDF/FACE), note values, time signatures and sharps and flats...and it all gets easier with practice.

Notation for ornaments can vary, and some (myself included) don't even bother writing them in, as ornamentation styles can vary from player to player (or even from one playing session to another). Cuts and taps are usually indicated by "grace notes" (tiny notes "tied" to the primary note), rolls by either a sideways "S" or a curved line (like a sideways paren) under the note. "Slides" or "smears" can be written above the note as "Sm" or "Gl." (for "glissando"). Trills are written above the note as "Tr."

Music reading is like reading print...the more you do it, the easier it gets. Start with tunes you already know, so you can get a feel for how it works.

No "rag on" required! There are a lot of people here who don't read music! It isn't strictly required, though I think it's a useful tool that one should cultivate, if possible...just as one should cultivate the ability to learn by ear.

Redwolf

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Redwolf on 2003-02-20 15:11 ]</font>

Walden · Post by **Walden** » Thu Feb 20, 2003 2:34 pm

Dolmetsch has lessons online at:

http://www.dolmetsch.com/introduction.htm

peeplj · Post by **peeplj** » Thu Feb 20, 2003 2:51 pm

On 2003-02-20 14:57, Ridseard wrote:
I've never seen sheet music at Irish trad, bluegrass, or old time sessions.

Perhaps they just don't bring it with them?

Best,

--James
http://www.flutesite.com

Ridseard · Post by **Ridseard** » Thu Feb 20, 2003 3:05 pm

On 2003-02-20 15:51, peeplj wrote:
Perhaps they just don't bring it with them?

If they did bring sheet music to a session, I'm sure they would have to put up with a lot of kidding, if not ridicule.

HDSarah · Post by **HDSarah** » Thu Feb 20, 2003 3:23 pm

Try http://members.aol.com/kitchieboy/tutor/tutor1.html

This page is "Kitchieboy's Music Tutor
Learning to Read Music
(But Not Enough to Hurt Your Playing)", part of the Kitchen Musician website. I'd highly recommend it to anyone wanting to learn to read music, especially fin the context of playing traditional music. It covers what you need to know, and with the sense of humor that permeates the Kitchen Musician website.

Sarah

peeplj · Post by **peeplj** » Thu Feb 20, 2003 3:27 pm

On 2003-02-20 16:05, Ridseard wrote:
On 2003-02-20 15:51, peeplj wrote:
Perhaps they just don't bring it with them?
If they did bring sheet music to a session, I'm sure they would have to put up with a lot of kidding, if not ridicule.

Well, that's a shame.

If you are very in my part of the world, give me a call--you can sit in on a session where you will never be ridiculed for what you bring, what you play, or how well you play it.

Best,

--James
http://www.flutesite.com

Aodhan · Post by **Aodhan** » Thu Feb 20, 2003 3:45 pm

On 2003-02-20 16:05, Ridseard wrote:
On 2003-02-20 15:51, peeplj wrote:
Perhaps they just don't bring it with them?
If they did bring sheet music to a session, I'm sure they would have to put up with a lot of kidding, if not ridicule.

Everyone at the session I go to has seen me digging in my book for a current tune, and nobody has said a word yet.

Aodhan

revwhit · Post by **revwhit** » Thu Feb 20, 2003 4:30 pm

On 2003-02-20 14:39, Zubivka wrote:
Fantastic source for the basics and more, with printable documents, downloadable Javascript tutorials :
http://www.musictheory.net/

This is a really cool site! Thanks Zubivka!
Whit+

Zubivka · Post by **Zubivka** » Thu Feb 20, 2003 4:38 pm

On 2003-02-20 14:57, Ridseard wrote:
I've never seen sheet music at Irish trad, bluegrass, or old time sessions.

No-one ever saw me reading a book when sharing a mug in a pub,
and discussing Life, The Universe, and Everything.
No-one infered from it I don't read.
Or that I can not.

markv · Post by **markv** » Thu Feb 20, 2003 5:04 pm

On 2003-02-20 16:27, peeplj wrote:
On 2003-02-20 16:05, Ridseard wrote:
On 2003-02-20 15:51, peeplj wrote:
Perhaps they just don't bring it with them?
If they did bring sheet music to a session, I'm sure they would have to put up with a lot of kidding, if not ridicule.

Well, that's a shame.

If you are very in my part of the world, give me a call--you can sit in on a session where you will never be ridiculed for what you bring, what you play, or how well you play it.

Best,

--James
http://www.flutesite.com

Same thing in my neck of the woods.

Come any time, just email Live-the-Question AKA Jim first so he can bring his wonderfull whistles and wit along.

Mark V.

Mark

Ridseard · Post by **Ridseard** » Thu Feb 20, 2003 5:34 pm

Thanks, James and Mark, for the invitations to kinder, gentler sessions.

Azalin · Post by **Azalin** » Thu Feb 20, 2003 6:30 pm

Gee, sheet music in a session. I'm sure it must be a very creative environment! Next time I'm with my girlfriend, I'll make sure to have my Kama Sutra book with me.

She'd better not ask me to surprise her though, I can't read and improvise at the same time!