There are many challenges young musicians must conquer, especially if they are performing classical pieces. They must adjust to changing tempos, understand key changes and learn to read sheet music while playing their instrument. Reading sheet music, especially for a piece with an upbeat tempo can be a challenge that can take some time. I have been a music student since the young age of 7, and there are a few choice methods that help young musicians learn to read their sheet music with ease.
Analyze and Understand the Piece Before Playing
Before your budding musician begins to play the piece, they should attempt to understand how the piece should be played. Pay special attention to the tempo indicated on the piece. This information is typically indicated at the upper left hand corner. Also, make a note of what key the song is played in; sometimes there are more than one. Understanding how the piece should be played before you set out to play it will make performing the piece much easier and more enjoyable.
Acronyms
When I was learning to read sheet music at the young age of 7, there were a few acronyms that helped me tremendously. The first acronymn “E-G-B-D-F” represented the notes that are present on the lines of the staff paper. To remember this acronym, my fellow students and I would repeat over and over again “Every good boy does fine.” This helped us remember what the acronym stood for, and in turn we never forgot the order of the notes on the lines.
Another acronym that helped a lot was “F-A-C-E.” This acronym representated the notes that appeared between the lines on the staff paper. Although there was no quirky slogan for this acronym, “F-A-C-E” helped us remember the placement of the notes.
Mark-ups and Notations
There was just one more step before beginning to play. With a pencil, I would circle or underline important or difficult parts of the composition. This is especially helpful when a key change comes into play. Rather than being caught off guard, my notation tells me what to do. Also, by analyzing the piece before hand, I know what to expect.
Learning to read and understand sheet music is a challenge for most musicians, but once you learn this skill, it is not easily forgotten.
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