What is the best way to practice reading sheet music?

Question

I play alto saxophone

Answer 1

If you are asking how to LEARN TO READ sheet music more easily:

Use the method book to learn the fingerings for each line and space and it's sharp/flat. Writing in the letter names can become a real crutch. I try to have my students avoid that.

Use a mnemonic until you get more confident. The treble spaces from the bottom going up are F-A-C-E. Using that and knowing that the letters climb alphabetically starting over again after G, you can quickly figure out a line note's name. (E line note in right under the 1st space F.... The 2nd line falls between the F and the A, so it has to be a G....etc.)

When you get ready to work on a piece of sheet music, try talking your way through it first, saying the letters. Then finger through it while saying the letters. Look up any fingerings you are unsure of. Then work a phrase or a line at a time, playing through it at least 3 to 5 times. Work the next little part ( at least 3-5 times until it's easy). Start at the beginning and do all the parts you've worked through. Keep adding parts you have learned one at a time.

Take small bites and chew - thoroughly!

BUT BUT BUT.. you said how to practice reading sheet music and there is so much more to reading music well than just which pitches to play.

When you start a piece, first look all through it. Look for any weird or unexpected things. Finger through the pitches like I described above until you can make the moves smoothly. Then (still work in small bites) once you can find all the notes and have the rhythms correct - check all the directions they are giving you for making it musical.

1. Pitches - the right notes with the right fingerings
2. Rhythm - the correct counts on notes and rests
3. Dynamics - loud - medium - soft?
4. Articulations - tongued or slurred?
5. Specials (accents, ritardandos, etc)

Getting the correct pitches and rhythms is still no more than some nice noise. Getting the frosting on is what makes it music.

As you practice a piece, do all the things it's asking for and you will enjoy what you can play a lot more, sooner.

Just keep chewing in small bites. The more you practice, the easier it will get - Promise!

Answer 2

Flash cards work for some. As the previous person said, writing the letters work. I think she did something wrong it she had a hard time breaking herself of it. When I first started playing saxophone I wrote the letters, and when I started knowing what the letter was before writing it is when I stopped doing that. I teach saxophone and my students learn it out of their method books since the note letter and position in the staff is drilled into them throughout the book.

Answer 3

THESE ARE JUST THE BASICS: OK the first thing you need to know is that the musical letters go from a-g. Next the musical scale has 5 lines and 4 spaces at the very bottom is d, the first line is e, the first space is f# (the # means sharp), the second line is g, the second the second space is a, the third line high b ( high is the upside down note) , the third space is c high, the fourth line is high d, the fourth space is high e, the fifth line is high f, and at the very top is g high IF YOU WANT TOO GET THE MORE DIFFFICULT NOTES ASK FOR THEM OK. P.S. I play violin!

Answer 4

You said it your self.....just practice. I played the sax for a few years and at first i would just write in the note letters, but that was such a bad habit! and so hard to break. Just start with something simple, with repeating notes so you recognize where they are on the line or space. It gets easier, I promise....Good Luck!!

Answer 5

Try http://www.sheetmusicfox.com
They have a great variety of free sheet music, and a very powerful sheet music search engine.