To become a professional musician, you need to be able to read a sheet music at first sight. Reading sheet music is an important component of almost all auditions and a fundamental skill to be able to play in an orchestra, choir or musical group. If you've learned to play an instrument or sing by ear, learning how to read sheet music will make you a more confident musician and be able to perform more effectively.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Review the Music Theory
Step 1. Familiarize yourself with the metric representation
It appears on all scores and is used to indicate how many movements (or beats) are present in each measure of a piece and what the unit of time is, that is the symbol chosen to represent a single beat. Practice with different rhythmic exercises to get to know all the musical meters.
- Write down rhythms made up of quarter notes and minims in a 4/4 meter on a sheet of paper. Practice following the rhythm by tapping your foot on the ground, counting the beats and playing with that meter.
- Repeat the exercise with quarter notes, eighth notes and sixteenth notes. Use notes of different lengths to familiarize yourself with the appearance of the symbols on the score.
- Use a metronome to follow the beat.
Step 2. Memorize the key signatures
The key in which you should play a piece is indicated by the key signature, which is the combination of sharps and flats on the score. You will find accidentals at the beginning of the staff lines, just after the clef.
- To recognize the sharp notes, look at the last alteration on the staff and move up a half step. If the last alteration is a C sharp, the key is D major.
- To recognize flat notes, look at the penultimate accident (read the key signature from left to right). If the penultimate alteration is an E flat, the song is in E flat major.
- F major (or D minor) is the only exception to the rule, because this particular key has a single flat (B flat).
Step 3. Learn where each note is on the staff
There are two types of clefs: bass and violin; the correspondence between lines and spaces of the staff and the notes changes according to the clef in use. Learn the position of each note in both clefs and practice matching them to symbols by simple observation.
- In the treble clef, the lines of the staff represent, from bottom to top, the notes Mi Sol Si Re Fa.
- In the treble clef, the spaces between the lines of the staff correspond to the notes Fa La Do Mi.
- In the bass clef, the lines of the staff represent, from bottom to top, the notes Sol Si Re Fa La.
- In the bass clef, the spaces between the lines of the staff correspond to the notes A Do Mi Sol.
Step 4. Practice the stairs
This training helps singers and musicians become familiar with note names and remember where each note is on the staff. If you play an instrument, practice scales without looking at your hands.
- If you looked at your hands, you wouldn't be able to concentrate on reading the score.
- If you play an instrument, you should still practice solfeggio. You will improve intonation, phrasing and musicality.
Part 2 of 3: Prepare to Read a Score
Step 1. Read the entire score
When you see a piece for the first time, observe it for a moment without holding the instrument in your hand. Try to follow the rhythm by tapping one foot on the ground, reading the notes and observing the structure of the song, looking for repeating beats.
- Look for accidentals and symbols that indicate changes in speed or volume.
- If you can, mark these variations on the score with a pencil.
Step 2. Play the song in your head
Take a moment to reproduce the piece and look for musical patterns that arise over and over. Check if the melody is repeated in some parts. Study the song to perfection before picking up your instrument.
- Look for parts with scales or arpeggios.
- The better you know the music, the easier it will be to read the score when you have the instrument in your hand.
Step 3. Breathe
Reading a score can be very challenging, but by breathing you will be able to stay focused and in time. Relax your body and mind, trying to devote all your attention to the music. Don't give up if you make a mistake; keep playing and make a mental note, remembering to practice that part.
- If you are a singer or if you play a wind instrument, use a pencil to mark where to breathe.
- Don't expect to be able to read a sheet music perfectly right away. Reading music is a skill that you can only develop over time.
Part 3 of 3: Improving Your Score Reading Skills
Step 1. Try to stay 100% focused
Reading a score includes many moving parts. You will need to consider notes, rhythms, pitch changes, and many other variables. It is impossible to be able to read a sheet music perfectly without giving your full attention to this task.
- Challenge yourself to read an entire passage without making mistakes.
- When you get distracted, get your attention back and start the song over.
Step 2. Focus on the big picture
Each piece of music contains hundreds of notes; trying to count and identify them all is an exhausting and impossible task. Instead, divide a song into smaller parts and try to read it that way.
- Divide each measure into two parts and try to find the downbeat one.
- Later, try reading the music with a slower tempo or one measure at a time.
Step 3. Purchase teaching materials to learn how to read a score
Children learn to read by browsing through many books. The same principle applies to musicians. Try visiting sites such as PianoMarvel, where you will find music reading exercises and songs you can practice on.
- Search the internet for websites that offer free sheet music.
- Ask your music teacher if he can provide you with sheet music that you can photocopy.
Step 4. Write down your exercises in a journal
It takes years to become a music-reading expert, but you can start building good habits right away. Try to practice reading sheet music for at least 15 minutes a day.
- Write in your journal which passages you have read and how long you have practiced.
- Practice reading music slowly. You will always be able to increase the speed when you get to know a song better.
