Reading....it's so good!

[Chris "Citrus" Sauthoff]

So...

 Thanks to all my students that needed to learn how to read music so that they could get into the Denver School of the Arts! 

 

  Because of you my reading skills have jumped up to where they were on the violin back in the day.

 

 I am finding it so much easier to play all kinds of music! I can now pick up things and play melodies within minutes and the chords with just a little bit more effort... I never really read chords on the violin..only double stops.  

 

It has also helped me with all of the Tab books that I have.  I have found TONS of mistakes!

 

  One chord written above the staff but another written in notation, missing accidentals...that sort of thing.

 

 

  Just like we need to be able to read our language to navigate the world without a guitar in our hands....we need to read the language of music in order to really understand the instrument and what can be done with it.

 

 I had left the world of written music because I so wanted to form my own sound and at 19 yrs old I thought that it was best to just play by ear, NOT learn any music by Anybody else....and just write and discover on my own.

 That did indeed leave me with a distinctive style...which I am very happy to have.   HOWEVER....a few years ago Mr. Michael Hampton  told me how important it was to learn other music NOTE FOR NOTE...Exactly as the other musician had designed...so that you can learn so much more about music to INFUSE into your own style...as well as respect your elders and learn from them easily the lessons that they suffered to understand. 

 

 I started then learning other music...mostly via tab books and still by ear....

 

 Now tho....I so wish I had retained my skills for the last 23 years....I would  have so much more understanding of it all.

 

  No matter tho... I am back on track and I am sure that my skills will grow exponentially...

so will yours if you learn what all those squiggles and dots mean!

 

 

 

 

 

[Ken Philbrick]

I think the reading class will grow as people disciver it at swallow Hill. no one else is doing it. The possibility of reading music will keep you focused on the real rythum and soul of the song

Ken Philbrick

[Molly Livaudais]

Huh.  I actually own the Hal Leonard book already.  So you're telling me I have to READ it too?  Jeez.  Thanks for the info, though, and I am busy checking out that new group on reading music.  And the Grimoire pages.  TMI!

 

And @Kiska-check out Chris's new forum post on people getting together outside of class.  I am sure people will get on board if we can drum up some interest!

[Chris "Citrus" Sauthoff]

The Hal Leonard Complete Method

http://www.amazon.com/Hal-Leonard-Guitar-Method-Complete/dp/0881881392

 

 

and 

Berklee Press A Modern Method for Guitar - Volumes 1, 2, 3 Complete Book

http://www.amazon.com/Berklee-Press-Modern-Method-Guitar/dp/B001UH10F6

 

 

[Molly Livaudais]

Thanks for all the compelling reasons to learn to read music.  It has been too easy for me to blow it off when tab is so readily available, but your logic is spot on.  So... any helpful reference guides?  Maybe Mel Bay?

[kiska baldwin]

I'm looking for someone to practice or play with just for fun.  Anybody??