Ben asked:


I am in my 3rd year at uni. I am doing composition, and I am doing well. Yet I am not exactly the best pianist on earth (I can read music, but I am a slow sight reader), and it takes me ages to get a piece right, unfortunately sometimes I lack motivation to learn a piece, so I just improvise. However, my lecturer says I am developing as a composer, and even he admits that he’s not the best viola player. My friend, who also composes, plays a few instruments, but admits she doesn’t play any of them really well. So, do you have to be a virtuoso musician in order to compose?

How to Sight Read Music

Terra asked:


so ive played the violin for.. 11 years? 12 maybe. lol a while. anyways im pretty good but my city’s orchestra is taking on new members in a couple months and i would like to try out. the thing is i havent played for the last 2-3 months and im rusty. i could use some work on my technique anyways. i need to work on bow control, overall tone, vibrato, and sight reading. i could probably fine tune more, but i cant think of anything else)
im willing to practice 2-3 hours a day. maybe more. (i’ll split it up so that its not 3 hours straight) but what should i do during my practice sessions? i cant afford lessons right now. i have some sheet music and a book of exercises. so do you have any advice?

Sight Reading Music

Lets play Russian Roulette asked:


Tomorrow i have to do a chair tryout and were playing excerpt from “El capitan”, a lot of scales, and their giving us a piece of music we’ve never seen before and were not sure what it is so we can sight read it. Im scared out of my mind because ive been practicing but don’t know how to play the piece and im even doing bad on the scales! I know im not a bad player [ive been playing for almost 6 years now] and only 2 other trombones can play them but they said they even struggle a little and their way good. So what can i do so i do decent tomorrow? [bands 1st hour btw lol]

thanks :]
lol i’ve been practicing since 4:30 and i STILL cant get it :[
Silverflute :: I didnt i started practicing 2 weeks ago when we got the music :/

how to sight read music

Tawlks asked:


I’ve been playing guitar for about 4 years and did my grade 6 in February, I want to do another grade and I’ve been told that there is only a very small difference between grades 7 and 8 and I’d rather not have to do two grades to get to 8, should I do grade 7 or 8 now?
I found the grade 6 songs very easy but the theory and sight reading a bit more difficult, I’ve since learnt alot more about the theory side of music and I’m doing A level music.

Sight Reading Music

Walking Contradiction asked:


Okay, in music at school we have these guitar booklets we have to work through and I really want to get to the next one. I’m great at actually playing the songs but when it comes to sight reading I’m stuck. How long does it take to be proficient at sight reading?? Is there a good and bad way to learn how to?

How to Sight Read Music

Socialist Defender asked:


I play guitar, and ca play fairly well, but my sight reading isnt that good. I know the basics of reading music such as what the minums and crotchets are but i want to get fluent at it…especially reading rhtyhym…

whats a good way to practise learning how to read music?

How to Sight Read Music Video Lesson

dcsedtaxi asked:


I have been trained classically and enjoy classical and contemporary music. I can sight-read fairly decently except for tricky rythms. I am looking for pieces that will help me to be able to play more unique and difficult pieces such as Ravel’s Jeux Deau, Rachmaninoff sonatas, Scriabin etudes and maybe even Liszt rhapsodies.
i apreciate your answer saylor but i am looking for more difficult pieces needing greater technique.

sight reading music

Calvin T asked:


i love music no doubt. i would say its my passion. whenever i hear something cool on the radio i tell myself, i want to play that! most likely i do. at 5 i started piano lessons for a couple years then went on and off on lessons. i can play basic stuff easily but i’m not a great piano player. at 14 i started clarinet and just a couple years ago i picked up the guitar and sax. now i’m 18 and still haven’t decided on a major yet. this could be a safety net for me in case i have nothing else going…etc i can read music for all instruments. it just takes some time. i am a horrible horrible sight reader. any ways that i can improve other than just practice? any tips? suggestions?

Learn How to Read Music

Calvin T asked:


i love music no doubt. i would say its my passion. whenever i hear something cool on the radio i tell myself, i want to play that! most likely i do. at 5 i started piano lessons for a couple years then went on and off on lessons. i can play basic stuff easily but i’m not a great piano player. at 14 i started clarinet and just a couple years ago i picked up the guitar and sax. now i’m 18 and still haven’t decided on a major yet. this could be a safety net for me in case i have nothing else going…etc i can read music for all instruments. it just takes some time. i am a horrible horrible sight reader. any ways that i can improve other than just practice? any tips? suggestions? i’d like to go all the way if i can and shoot for a doctorate degree and hopefully teach and perform on the side.

How to Read Music for Beginners

Q&A asked:


My boyfriend is 22 and he really wants to pursue music as a career. He has attended a two-yr college with a focus on arts, but he feels like he’s not good enough to get into a 4-yr university because of a lack of technical training (he has to audition and sight read ect).

I suggested he take private lessons, but we both don’t know what to look for in a teacher?

What else can my boyfriend do?

He really has such a good voice and loves learning about music, he’s just doesn’t know how to get on the right track to becoming a better guitarist!

Please, any suggestions would be great

How to Sight Read Music