Y Kant Jessie Read (reading music/recommendations)

[Jessie]

Hey guys. I know there must be piano players on this forum and other musicians. I'm trying desperately to learn how to read music and I'm not having much luck.

Does any one have any books that really really helped them? I would take a class, but I just graduated so I'm kinda bummed I past up the opportunity.

Anyway... I'm totally frustrated. I can play a few song (like 8 or 9) on piano, just from ear but I really really want to learn how to read music and none of the books (mostly the 'easy piano' books) aren't helping, it's just not clicking for me.

Any suggestions or recommendations?

[ellie]

I can play bunch of instruments: piano,violin,viola,guitar,clarinet and clavichord
I believe that you must not learn how to read music from books, If you have the chance of getting a special education for this, do not wait start getting lessons.
Learning from books and so is not really helpful in my opinion, I have been playing the violin since I was 3 and a half but I was send to a music course when I was 6 after that I started to read the music more clearly.

[Jessie]

So don't go with the books? Maybe that's the problem then. Maybe when I go to grad school I can take a few classes.

I played the drums in highschool, but it was a punk band so there really wasn't any need for real skill, lol.

Learning to read music is HARD.

[sinsuality]

Reading music doesn't come quickly and it's not really something you can learn from a book. Perhaps start with theory lessons and then move onto piano?

[mermaid]

it is really hard. im 28 and never played a musical instrument in my life until I rescued a piano from our church hall a year or so ago. Now my boyfriend is trying to teach me and I get the basics enough to learn little bits but as soon as I know how to play it my hands just work from memory and i forget to read and then forget what it all means.

i guess it just takes a lot of time and patience.

[nghisus]

I've been taking lessons for about 3 years and I finally learned how to play Winter out of the big boy book last month. It's not perfect but it will be I started taking lessons at 23, so it's never too late! It's very satisfying to be able to sit down and play something you've actually listened to for soooooooooooooo long.

My piano teacher pretty much has me play scales to strengthen and warm up my fingers. Then I usually play a new easy song every week, and I practice a big piece for a recital every 2 months. There's a lot of beginner books out there you can pick up. I played a bunch of Sonatinas at first but now I'm finally getting some input into what I want to play.

In short, the best thing to do is find a good teacher and practice practice practice. If not, get some books and work your way up. Just practice practice practice twice as hard because you have a little bit less direction without an instructor.

[Jessie]

That's really encouraging to hear since I'm 23!
When I get a better job I definitely want to get some lessons.