Can you read MUSICAL NOTES?
By vesuvius
@vesuvius (1677)
Philippines
October 28, 2008 7:52am CST
Recently I have been involved in our local church choir, and because of this I am now very used to seeing musical pieces. These papers contain several musical symbols, which for absolute beginners in music, are quite confusing yet somehow interesting.
Now that I have been rehearsing with a choir in more than seven months, I can say that I can now understand the basics of musical note reading, although my present knowledge, still is not that great - well maybe just enough for me to sing the hymns correctly. LOL
How about you? Can you interpret musical notes? Do you know the exact meaning of every symbol on the staff? If yes, can you 'translate' those notes into real music by means of a musical instrument?
5 people like this
11 responses
@daijean11 (211)
• Philippines
8 Nov 08
i also have been a member of a choir before(when i was in grade school)..our instructor is also our music teacher..so when it's time for her subject, she teaches us how to read musical notes/symbols.
..now that it has been almost 5 years, i already forgot some of those..but, fortunately, i can still read the notes in G-clef.
i haven't learned how to play musical instruments but we have keyboard here in our house so i just practice on that(not using the right position of hands)..^.^v
1 person likes this
@dong1970 (1572)
• Philippines
28 Oct 08
hi there,
I can read musical notes,I was also a choir member before.You are right reading musical notes are confusing and sometimes if you can't read it clear you might be mistaken to the notes that you are singing.By the way welcome back to mylot.
1 person likes this
@youless (112113)
• Guangzhou, China
27 Dec 08
I had learned it when I was in high school. But I already forgot it totally. In fact I found it's not easy for me to recognize it. I prefer to read "1, 2, 3" much more:)
I love China
@Gentle_Giant (44)
•
10 May 09
Hi, I can read musical notes and significant musical symbols and various notations written in all clefs. I can transcribe music and even transpose keys when playing from somebodys esle sheet. I am playing on saxophones for almost 17 years... I am able to read with very very fast tempo with great accuracy of reading. I guess it is very difficult at teh beginning for you to learn how to read thase simple notes, but I am sure you will get better as you spent more time practising. remember if you don't know it's always good to ask more experienced musician. We love to help each other :)
@daffy6 (101)
• Malaysia
28 Oct 09
I have been a musician all my life playing free lance. I can read musical notes and it is compulsory for us to know how to read music in order to stay freelance musicians. It is an advantage if you read musical notes because you can play music without having to hear the songs.
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
18 Dec 08
Well, I have learned how to play Music and so I can read notes, etc. so it does help when singing in a choir, etc. as well. Most of the time though most people never even stop to think how important it might be to know how to read music, etc. unless you play in a band, or have an interest in wanting to learn how to read music etc. as well.
@filmbuff (2909)
• United States
8 Nov 08
As a musician, and a music major in college I think it's safe to say I can dechiper most symbols found in music. Music is kind of like a cool algebra, and the notation is the language.
If you want to expand your musical knowlege and really learn to understand music, I would suggest getting an inexpensive keyboard, a beginners learn to play piano book (alfred is a good one) then a book/cd combo on ear training.
Just a little bit of knowlege can go a very long way and it will all make much more sense. Besides as I've told all my students and anyone who asks me advice on how to play better... I tell them to learn to hear, you voice, your singing, your timing, your enjoyment will go way up.
@YamiKiba (937)
• United States
22 Nov 08
Well. . .I can understand them and have basic knowledge of them. . .but for playing instruments, I can only do that with a trumpet, but its been a long time since I've played, since that was back in middle school and I only used the school's instrument.
I can use it to keep myself in check when singing, though I only did that when I was in choir senior year of high school. . .Choir was really fun and I met a lot of fun people. (: I know most of the meanings of the symbols of the staff, but I would not be able to name them or describe them at the top of my head if I was on the spot. xD
@fasttalker (2796)
• United States
8 Nov 08
I am the choir leader at our church and yes I can read them an yes they can be very confusing at times. The old adage is "Practice makes perfect" so hang in there you'll master it one day! LOL
