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