so you think you can't read music!

55
So You Think You Can’t Read Music! Monday, 19 August 13

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Many people think that learning how to read music and play from music notation is too difficult. But it really isn't! In this Slideshare deck I explain what teachers can do to increase the success of their students in becoming confident readers, who can play fluently from notation. I explore the difference between knowing only how to work out the music and instantly being able to recognise patterns and shapes - then being able to play them immediately on your instrument. I use this thinking to help music teachers reframe the way they teach, so they can help their students balance listening and reading, to become more independent as musicians. I hope teachers and students alike enjoy it!

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

So You ThinkYou Can’t

Read Music!

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 2: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

Most instrumental learners do battle

with reading traditional music notation

(Learners’flag)

(Notationforces’ flag)

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 3: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

Sadly, for some,

the notation wins!

Boo!!

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 4: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

Students may try their best to learn

how to work out pitches from the score

rhythm values

&

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 5: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

But many give up on notation

because they never get past the hesitant stage of

playing from a score!

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 6: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

Here’s what teachers can do about it...

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 7: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

Make sure students can name & play (only) the notes they need*

instantly & without hesitation

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 8: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

instantly & without hesitation*Don’t try to teach them every note on the instrument before they need them

Make sure students can name & play (only) the notes they need*

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 9: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

Understanding the score is one thing.

Knowing immediately what to do about it on your

instrument is an additional skill!

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 10: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

Stopping to work it out is the slowest way to play from a score:

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 11: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

Instant

Very slow

RE

SP

ON

SE

SP

EE

D

READING SKILL TYPES

Knowing How*

*KNOWING only HOW to work out elements on

a score interrupts the performance.

By this route, fluency is impossible.

The goal must be to be able to respond instantly:

by Knowing

Stopping to work it out is the slowest way to play from a score:

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 12: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

This is a much better wayto play from a score:

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 13: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

This is a much better wayto play from a score:

Instant

Very slow

RE

SP

ON

SE

SP

EE

D

READING SKILL TYPES

Knowing**

Knowing How

**KNOWING – ie, instantly recognising melodic patterns, chords & rhythms the performer

has seen before.

This means that fluency & flow are

NOT interrupted.

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 14: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

I grew up in a very musical family

Rather like this one (but with perhaps more stride piano playing!)

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 15: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

When I began learning piano (aged 5)

I really struggled with reading notation

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 16: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

I had perfect pitch

but that meant my aural abilities were way ahead of my music reading

Perfo

rming

Not

ation

read

ing

Aural

perc

eptio

n

Ab

ilit

y

High

Low

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 17: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

Playing from a scorewas frustrating & unpleasant for me

(& for anyone unfortunate enough to hear me!)Monday, 19 August 13

Page 18: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

When I began piano exams

my aural abilities still out-weighed my sight playingMonday, 19 August 13

Page 19: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

I didn’t pass the sight-reading

until I reached grade 5!

Hooray!

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 20: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

It had dawned on me

that I could play more fluently...Monday, 19 August 13

Page 21: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

CHUNKS of notation...if I could recognise

(Rhythm)

(Pitch)

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 22: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

CHUNKS of notation...if I could recognise

(rather than individual note events)

(Rhythm)

(Pitch)

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 23: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

I also learned that staff notation

was not as scary as it seemed!

Photo: Creepyhalloween © stockarch.com

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 24: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

Learning music just from notation

is like trying to learn a language just from a book

Phot

o: H

eadp

hone

s &

Boo

ks ©

Bill

C M

artin

201

3

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 25: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

Phot

o: M

ontm

artr

e Pu

b C

raw

l © T

hom

as S

auze

ddi v

ia F

lickr

Cre

ativ

e C

omm

ons

To improve your accent & understand culture & customs...

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 26: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

you need conversations with genuine native speakers!

Phot

o: M

ontm

artr

e Pu

b C

raw

l © T

hom

as S

auze

ddi v

ia F

lickr

Cre

ativ

e C

omm

ons

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 27: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

Playing with musicians who are better than you

gives insights into how to play, not just what to play

Cajun Jam Session © JC Winkler via Flickr Creative Commons

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 28: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

It will help you develop an understanding of the music

way beyond the note & rhythm information that the score provides

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 29: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

It may also help you clarify

what you might express that could make the music, well, more musical!

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 30: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

The good news: staff notation is concerned mainly with

1. Pitch2. Rhythm

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 31: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

So I came to realise

my notation ‘dragon’ wasn’t scary at all!Monday, 19 August 13

Page 32: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

To become fluent

when playing from a score, I needed to develop...

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 33: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

An ability to recognise instantly

shapes, patterns & phrases on the page

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 34: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

As music teacherswe can learn a lot from literacy teachers

Children's Books © katerha via Flickr Creative Commons

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 35: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

They know that children

will read aloud, fluently, only when...

Photo: Child Reading via MorgueFile

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 36: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

shapes, patterns & words on the page

...they can recognise instantly

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 37: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

And when they can understand

the MEANINGof what they’re reading

Child Reading at Brookline Booksmith © Tim Pierce via Flickr Creative Commons

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 38: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

So why do so many music teachers

go no further than teaching students

how to work out individual notation elements?

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 39: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

In language, understanding phonics

(or individual letter sounds) will only enable students to work out the words

r + ea + d + ing

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 40: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

It won’t drive reading fluency because

1. It’s not an instant process

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 41: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

It won’t drive reading fluency because

1. It’s not an instant process2. It isn’t built on comprehension

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 42: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

Learning only how to work out individual note values & pitches...

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 43: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

is like learning to read but only ever learning to recognise

individual letters!

“Wh o’ s b ee n ea t ing m y p o rr i dge?

The result lacks fluency

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 44: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

Almost ANY OTHER STRATEGY is quicker!

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 45: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

So teachers, PLEASE

be kind to your poor students! Don’t leave them armed with only...

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 46: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

The ability to work out

individual note values or pitches!

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 47: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

It’s not enough

& some learners will give up!

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 48: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

Remember: Knowing only How to work it out won’t aid fluency

Instant

Very slow

RE

SP

ON

SE

SP

EE

D

READING SKILL TYPES

Knowing How

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 49: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

So help them achieve fluency throughinstant recognition

Instant

Very slow

Knowing

Knowing How

Via regular routines & practice!R

ES

PO

NS

E S

PE

ED

READING SKILL TYPES

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 50: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

The first step?

Teachers must set instant recognition as a goal

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 51: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

To extend teachers’ skills

I run workshops on how to do this in your teaching

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 52: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

Choose either the 1-day workshop

on improving notation reading

Phot

o: M

usic

tea

cher

s at

tend

ing

a w

orks

hop

© B

ill C

Mar

tinMonday, 19 August 13

Page 53: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

Or choose the Ears & Eyes workshop

improving aural & reading skills teaching, in a single day

Photo: Jazzwise Summer School 2008 © Bill C Martin

Monday, 19 August 13

Page 54: So You Think You Can't Read Music!

It will extend your teaching skill set

& greatly enhance your students’ reading,

their playing capability & confidence

Monday, 19 August 13