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

musically inclined. asked:

Can you give me some hints on how to sight read better and just read music more proficiently…. I’m a percussionist and play a lot of mallet parts…when i get a piece, we play it right away…i don’t really have time to practice it beforehand…is there a way I can read the music more fluently?

Sight Reading Music Lessons