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

Alice Chan asked:


I take music theory at school and I started the piano when I was in second grade I believe. After a year I stopped because the guy stopped giving lessons so now I’m 15 and in that time in between I played a little but not enough to say I’ve been playing for 7 years.

Well anyways I’m really really slow at reading chords in songs like every time it’s like….C……uhhhhh…..E….uhhh….G…….i think…… (well thats just an example i know the c major but with other more complex chords i mean)
Can you help me with tips on how to read music and apply it to the piano faster? You would think with practice I would get better but it’s the same thing every time. Do I just need to see a lot more music?? It just doesn’t feel like I’ll get better because each time I struggle with playing songs because there a lot of chords and it’s bad because I won’t be able to sight read music if I go as slow as I do.
Also with playing with both hands synchronized will it get easier with a lot more practice? It just takes me SO long to piece together both hands, I mean eventually I can because I can read music and count beats but it shouldn’t take me that long to be able to and once again I don’t feel like practicing is helping me. I mean it helps me play that particular piece better but it’s the same thing all over again when I’m learning a new song.

Basically I just don’t feel like I’m making any progress, any tips from an experienced or just any piano player in general is welcome:D Well thank you if you can help me

How to Read Music for Beginners

Marie asked:


I am currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance, and, although I am classically trained, I want to know how I can get my name out there as a back-up musician. I’m sure it takes a lot, and there’s probably a lot of competition, but I don’t even know where to start! Have any of you had experience as a back-up musician? As a pianist, what should I be able to do? Sight reading is my greatest musical strength, so I feel like I would be a good candidate for this kind of job. Any other information you have on the subject is appreciated.

How to Read Music for Beginners

Diane asked:


36-years-old … piano student for 8 months … completed Primer and almost about to complete Level 1 and go into Level 2. Played four Level 3 and 4 Christmas songs.

Once I get to know a song, it’s almost like some measures I can play automatically by ear, while other measures I can’t and have to sight-read the music — and automatically my eyes will go off the page when this happens, sometimes getting me off track. (I can play Stairway to Heaven and a couple of Level 1 songs without looking at the music, but that’s it). How can I find a happy medium? Is this just part of the learning process?
Never have played piano or any other instrument in my life until eight months ago, and besides the above-mentioned problem, I enjoy it a lot. My family is not too musically inclined (other than mother playing flute in high school band and Glen Campbell being my 6th cousin on my dad’s side).

how to sight read music

SidewalkerTexasRanger asked:


so far i am self taught in this and i started taking piano classes almost a year ago. i read somewhere that you are REALLY sight reading when you can just look at the paper and sing or hum it. so far i have to play it on an instrument and i have a lot of trouble on the rhythms especially. do you progress to the point where you can write/read what you hear?

How to Sight Read Music Video Lesson