thedood52 asked:


I was searching around for great music theory books, and I found this series of books by Eric Taylor called “music theory in practice” but I don’t know which book to get, because they’re organized into grades, probably meant for the use of a music theory student studying for exams, and since I’m not a student and can’t afford a class I don’t know which one I should get. Here’s what I know:
I have a basic understanding of the diatonic modes and how they are used both in jazz and other music
I can read the neutral clef (for drums), the treble clef, bass clef, and the grand staff
I understand how major triads, minor triads, augmented, diminished, sixths, major sevenths, sevenths, minor sevenths, dominant sevenths, ninths, add9s, add11s, suspended2s, and suspended4 chords are all created from scales.
I have used the following time signatures before:
14/16
7/8
9/8
8/8
4/4
2/4
3/4
6/4
5/4
7/4
6/8
13/16
12/16
9/3
10/3
6/3
9/6
12/6
And I’ve experimented with using 5 and 7 as the bottom number, I’m not sure if that’s an original idea or not but if you have a way to count it its actually pretty easy. I can’t actually remember all of the time signatures I’ve used but those I’ve listed are off the top of my head and probably the ones I use most frequently.
I know all about keys (both major and minor), but suck at figuring out key signatures, if that makes sense
I know the pentatonic scales and blues scale
I’ve read about very exotic scales but don’t use them very well
I’m not a great sight reader on any instrument except for the drums, but I do know how I am supposed to read the other clefs.
I play guitar, bass, drums, and although I’m very inexperienced at piano I’ve tried it. I also sing but I have a horrible voice.
Okay so with that information of what I know so far, can you suggest which book I should start with? Sorry about the large wall of text.

how to sight read music

Zach asked:


I’ve just started learning piano pieces. I have music experience. I can sight-read both treble clef and bass clef well, treble more than bass, but I can’t play them together. The biggest throw-off is timing of notes between bass and treble. If any has any tips, advice, or stories (if you’re going to say ‘Practice’ [which I obviously know to do] at least include an inspirational story ) it would be appreciated.

How to Read Music for Beginners

{J!} asked:


I have played the piano for about 8 to 10 years. My sight reading is probably my weakest out of all my skills. Other than that, I can play fairly well once I get it. Now the song would have to be something nice attention grabbing. Before you put a song down, be sure to have a link to where I can get the music sheet. Also keep in mind that the audience/judge are high school students. For as of right now, I am thinking of playing “Maybe” by Yiruma, but I find it very repetitive. It would help a lot in helping find a 1st prize winning song!

How to Read Music for Beginners

Diane asked:


I am a 36-year-old female who has been taking piano lessons for one year. My teacher is a wonderful human being and I like being under her tutelage; however, she teaches the Bastien counting/rhythm method on playing (1-2-3-4 or 1&2&3&4 or 1&-er, 2&-er), etc. I started on Primer and I’m now almost to Level 3, but I find myself doing better at many songs by sight-reading the music (which I find easy to read and follow) rather than counting the notes in each measure. For example, on the song “Have A Holly Jolly Christmas”, when I count, I feel like a little bit of the song’s soul is lost because I can’t really *hear* it, figuratively speaking, due to having to count aloud (per my teacher’s recommendation). I don’t want to drop my teacher, but at the same time I feel like I’m making very slow progress because of the method she teaches. Should I stick it out? (On days I don’t practice … notably, Sundays … I like to play songs on the piano by sight-reading / singing the lyrics only)

How to Sight Read Music

h a n n a h . asked:


Okay so yeah. I got a printer on the 23rd, and I love it ;D
I spent 2/5 of the ink cartridge (I forgot hwo to spell it?) just printing sheet music.
I got the sixth station, ashitaka to san, a lot of final fantasy music, zelda, and anime.
Any recommendations?
Give me some pretty ones ;D
I’ll check them out!
I’m not that good at the piano, but sight reading and improving on my bass clef!

Learn How to Read Music

AK Monkey asked:


I am a O.K. trumpet player, and if I have a piece of music that I have practiced and know how to play, I do it fine. But I just cant sight read, and I have to be able to, to get into an orchestra I want to join. I really want to get better, and people always say you just need practice but I’ve been trying for a long time and I still can’t. So if someone could give me some tips that would be great!!!
Thx

Learning to Sight Read Music

nicole b asked:


Background info:
I’m trying to compose music for a musical I’m working on writing. I know enough music theory to write music, and I’m a good enough singer to know what I want to write and hear it. Though, being human, I can only remember that song for a certain amount of time. I have a great Great GREAT voice recorder (and I should probably carry that with me more often), but I need to translate what I sing or hear in my head to paper. So hard… I can only do that through an instrument, so I know which not I’m singing and what octave.

I can play the proficiently piano; meaning I know where bass and treble clef are. I know where middle C is. I know how to sight read. I know how to play something then write it down; my only problem with the piano is sometimes I can’t play up to tempo. I can also play the trumpet, but it’s been a couple of years (and I can’t remember what middle C sounds like on trumpet- it has to be transposed to something on the piano and I can’t remember what that is). Without that prior knowledge, I’m worthless with the trumpet when trying to compose. Luckily, I also play the oboe as well, though I don’t own one. But if I had one, I could compose with no problem. Though my parents say they all cost too much. If anyone knows of a good one under $1000, please refer me.

Now here is where my questions start. Should I:

A.) Continue perfecting my skills on the piano to compose.
B.) Get back to the trumpet.
C.) Find a reasonable oboe and get on with life.
D.) Get a totally new instrument that cheaper than an oboe and compose with that — I am a fast learner with instruments since I already know theory.
E.) Your opinion – please explain to me if this choice.

Thanks for your help.
Sorry it’s so long.

how to sight read music

brat asked:


I got accepted to Berklee, as a guitarist. I believe I want to either major in music production and engineering or film scoring. A lot of the negative reviews Ive read about seem to be coming from people who think going there will make them a rock star. Thats not what Im looking for at all. Im good at sight reading, good at jazz guitar, and in short am sure, (in a non arrogant way), I could keep pace with any style they want to teach me. But ultimately I want to learn how to make a living in one of the two majors I mentioned. Does anyone that has gone there have any idea if it sounds like I will be able to get what I want out of the school?

Thanks a lot.

Learn How to Read Music

Dinosaur asked:


I havnt played in a year and a half and i want to start learning again
the reason i havnt played in so long is that i left school and have not been able to afford a saxophone till now

Before that i played for to years being taught by my teacher
before that i had 6 months self teacheing experience
in that time i learned alot, and progresssed further then you would expect
My Sax teacher, and the music teacher at my school told me i was very good at playing
i practiced for half an hour to an hour everyday
I was also very good at improvising and sight reading

can anyone give me tips on how to get back into playing
i waz one of the people who started our schools jazz band
i wanna start something like a punk band
With influences like Less Than Jake and Herbie Hancock

Sight Reading Music

historyman asked:


Is there much different between the new syllabus(2008) and the old one(2002) for the TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PIANO and the FOUR STAR SIGHT READING AND EAR TESTS?

Cause I know that we only need these 2 books for practice and that we don;t need to bring it to the actual exam.
I am wondering if I can just use the old version(2002) for practice?

Sight Reading Music