Learning to Read Music: How to Make Sense of Those Mysterious Symbols and Bring Music Alive

Whether you want to learn how to play an instrument, or just refresh your existing capability, whether you sing in a choir, or would simply like to follow scores while listening, this book will help you achieve your aim. It leads you carefully through the basics of pitch, rhythm, keys, scales, chords, and much more, building your knowledge chapter by chapter until you are able to read music with ease. The visual index of musical symbols laid out at the start will make clear the task at hand.Reference to common instruments and familiar tunes will help bring your learning to life, while self-testing and chapter summaries ensure that you develop and retain this new skill. By the end of the book, you will have come a long way. Your knowledge of music notation will be a pleasure to you, and a useful tool. As well as its practical applications for any performer, this book will give you insights into how music is put together. You will have the feeling of knowing the music from the inside out.

Contents: Spot the dot visual index of symbols; Preface; 1. High or low; 2. Long or short; 3. Rhythm and beat; 4. Tunes; 5. Sharps and flats; 6. Scales; 7. Keys; 8. Major and minor; 9. Rhythm round-up; 10. Chords; 11. Odds and ends; 12. Case studies; A final word; Glossary; Answers to questions; Further reading; Useful addresses; Index.

"A...excellent. Good for reinforcing what has been learnt and excellent for keeping alongside your favourite pieces of music." Education Otherwise"Useful for non-specialist primary teachers, who often find teaching music a daunting business." Music Journal"Especially ideal for anyone who is learning to play an instrument." A readerA"An excellent book for anyone who would love to be able to read music but thinks it would be too difficult A... very easy to understand and well written.A" A reader

Peter Nickol is an award-winning music book editor. He has produced many books widely used in schools. He is based in Exeter, Devon.

Whether you want to learn how to play an instrument, or just refresh your existing capability, whether you sing in a choir, or would simply like to follow scores while listening, this book will help you achieve your aim. It leads you carefully through the basics of pitch, rhythm, keys, scales, chords, and much more, building your knowledge chapter by chapter until you are able to read music with ease. The visual index of musical symbols laid out at the start will make clear the task at hand.Reference to common instruments and familiar tunes will help bring your learning to life, while self-testing and chapter summaries ensure that you develop and retain this new skill. By the end of the book, you will have come a long way. Your knowledge of music notation will be a pleasure to you, and a useful tool. As well as its practical applications for any performer, this book will give you insights into how music is put together. You will have the feeling of knowing the music from the inside out. Contents: Spot the dot visual index of symbols; Preface; 1. High or low; 2. Long or short; 3. Rhythm and beat; 4. Tunes; 5. Sharps and flats; 6. Scales; 7. Keys; 8. Major and minor; 9. Rhythm round-up; 10. Chords; 11. Odds and ends; 12. Case studies; A final word; Glossary; Answers to questions; Further reading; Useful addresses; Index.

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