By Mitch Rice
When you first look at a page of sheet music you might think:
“What on earth is this? It’s like reading some secret code.”
Believe it or not, a lot of people feel exactly the same way you do when they look at sheet music for the first time…
Learning how to read music is something that’s much simpler than it seems.
If you know the right strategies you can be reading sheet music fluently in no time.
Plus you don’t have to be born with some kind of “musical” talent to do it, anyone can learn to read music.
All it takes is some knowledge and practice.
In this article you will learn about some of the most essential tips that will help you learn how to read music fluently!
Things you will learn:
- Why learning how to read music is something that’s so important
- Getting started with music notation basics
- Essential strategies to build your music reading fluency
- 5 Mistakes beginners make when trying to read music
- A simple plan that you can start using right now
Why Learning To Read Music Is Something So Important
Did you know that…
Approximately 11% of the population can read music notation?
That is a shockingly small number when it comes to something that’s such an important skill to have.
You see when you can read music it enables you to play any song you want.
You no longer have to rely on YouTube tutorials and YouTube tabs to figure out songs.
(Though those are pretty good skills to have as well)
When you can read music you are able to:
- Play pieces of music exactly how the composer wanted them played
- Learn new songs at a much faster rate
- You are able to better understand music theory concepts
- Make communication easier with other musicians
Reading music is like learning a universal language that will enable you to speak with composers from hundreds of years ago to musicians all over the world today.
Getting Started With Music Notation Basics
To be able to learn how to read music you first need to know and understand some music notation basics.
Music notation may look like an extremely complex system that you cannot hope to learn at first.
The truth is that once you start to break it down it becomes very simple.
The staff is made up of five lines and four spaces. Each space and line represents a different pitch.
Notes that are higher on the staff sound higher. Notes that are lower on the staff sound lower.
In the image below is a picture of the treble clef and the bass clef.
As a beginner you need to know:
- The treble clef (which is used for higher notes)
- The bass clef (which is used for lower notes)
- Note values (how long a note is to be played for)
- Time signatures (rhythm framework)
You do not need to try to learn all this information at one time, in fact it’s best not to.
If you are learning piano, guitar, or singing. You can leave the bass clef for later and focus on getting comfortable with the treble clef.
Essential Strategies To Build Your Reading Fluency
If you want to know the quickest way to build up your music reading skills?
The answer is to practice with pieces of music that are at your level.
Working with beginner-friendly sheet music is a great way to build your confidence while also learning the basic skills you will need to tackle more difficult pieces of music in the future.
Practicing with a well known pop song that you enjoy will be helpful. For example, learning to read piano sheet music like All of Me piano sheet music is a really good idea.
This is because you are already familiar with the melody. It’s already inside your brain.
So when you connect the written notes with the sounds you hear it’s easier for the brain to recognize what the notes are.
Here are the most effective strategies:
Use The Landmark Method
Instead of memorizing every single line and space. You want to use a “landmark” note that is easy to remember.
In the treble clef the middle C note and the Treble G note work really well for this.
Once you know these two you can easily figure out the other notes around these two landmarks.
Practice Daily (Even 5 Minutes Will Do)
Consistency is key when it comes to practicing music reading skills.
Five minutes of focused reading practice is much more effective than one one-hour session every week.
Your brain needs to be exposed to this kind of information regularly so that it can build strong neural connections.
Reading Without Playing
Ok so this is one that might sound a little strange at first.
The reason this is so effective is because you are looking at the sheet music. And naming the notes without actually playing them.
You are training your brain to recognize notes and patterns a lot quicker.
Start Slow & Simple
When you first start to read music try using some beginner sheet music that has large note values.
Once you can read those fluently you can start to work your way up to smaller note values and faster rhythms.
Set Clear Goals
When you sit down to practice, it’s important not to practice randomly.
You want to set a goal for the session. What do you want to work on?
Are you trying to learn to read music in a new key or do you want to practice improving your rhythm reading?
Use A Metronome
Rhythm is half the battle when it comes to reading music.
A metronome will help you keep on track and also develop good timing. This is crucial if you are going to be able to learn to read music fluently.
A study done by Temple University found that while 92% of children had access to music education only 49% were actually participating.
Those students that did participate and continued to stick with it developed greater cognitive skills and academic results.
Mistakes Beginners Make When Trying To Read Music
Although there are strategies that you can use when it comes to learning how to read music.
Beginners will often make a lot of the same mistakes.
These are some of the common mistakes to avoid:
- Trying to memorize the position of every single note. Use landmarks and intervals instead.
- Practicing with only your favorite pieces of music. When you sight read music you are reading music that you’ve never seen before. If you only practice what you already know you’re not building sight-reading skills.
- Ignoring rhythm. Many beginners will only focus on the pitch of notes they are playing. And they will often forget about the rhythm.
- Giving up too quickly. Learning to read music is a skill. You don’t pick it up overnight. You need time and consistent practice to get good at it.
Bringing It All Together
Learning how to read music fluently is one of the most beneficial skills you can learn as a musician.
It’s going to open you up to a world of music, and the strategies that have been talked about here will put you on the right track.
If you follow these steps you should start to see results and progress pretty quickly:
- Learn the music notation basics
- Get comfortable using the landmark method
- Practice daily (even 5 minutes a day will help)
- Work with actual music pieces that are at your level
- Avoid the mistakes that many beginners make
All you need to do is find some beginner sheet music and get started.
Every expert out there had to start at the same place you are at right now.
The difference is that they didn’t give up.
With consistent practice and the strategies that have been mentioned in this article you too will be reading music fluently in no time.
Data and information are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended for investment or other purposes.