Do you read music? How long did it take you to learn?

[awakenedsoul]

As I've mentioned in other posts, I'm taking a sight singing class right now. This is my first time learning to read music. Everyone else in the class already knows the notes. (Many of them majored in music or have played an instrument their whole lives.) That's the hardest part for me. I still have to count the lines and spaces. I'm saying in my head, "Every Good Boy Does Fine," and they've already called out the note. I'm practicing an hour a day. It's getting easier. I wonder how long it will take until it's automatic. Maybe six months or so?

[CathyA]

It probably varies from person to person awakenedsoul. I think its neat that you are doing this! It should be much easier by six months.

[awakenedsoul]

Thanks CathyA. I love it. It really stimulates my mind. It's a nice group of people. The pitch and musical aspects of the class come easily to me. The visual is what's harder.

[CathyA]

Are you any good with languages? It seems like a similar part of the brain is involved.
It's like learning a new language. You'll eventually get it!
I wonder if flash cards with the staff and one note on each would help?

[catherine]

I don't know what kind of a learner you are, but perhaps you could borrow a friend's keyboard and learn on a keyboard? The tactile experience of pressing the G, C, F#, etc. might help cement it in your brain.

I learned in 1st grade when the nuns taught me in their convent. I know how to read music, but I am NOT a good musician. I do love playing my Easy Disney Piano Pieces and I'm planning on practicing that A LOT for my grandson!

But yes, as the joke goes, it takes practice, man, practice!

[Float On]

That is just super good brain food for you awakened soul. I expect in 6 mts you will find how you are able to use this new skill in other ways, it's going to improve your memory and your recognition skills. Simple things like remembering someone's name after meeting them once.

I took piano for 13 years so I've played piano for 37 years now, although rarely anymore but I'll still pick up new sheet music every now and then and sit down and sight read it and play not too badly. I minored in voice in college but didn't sing again until I joined community chamber choir in January. It amazed me how quickly I picked up on my skills again.

[pinkytoe]

I learned at around 7 or 8 but I don't think it took long - the FACE spaces and EGBDF lines. Sharps and flats. Like riding a bicycle, it is still in my head so I can read and play sheet music. The hard part for me is looking at the note and "knowing" what it will sound like. I guess those that play by ear get that better than sight readers? Sounds like a fun class.

[awakenedsoul]

Thanks for all the replies! CathyA, Yes, I took Spanish in high school, and it came very easily to me. I see what you mean about this being like a language. I think I'll make some flashcards, like you said. Each day it's getting better.
Catherine, Yeah, the practice is making a huge difference. Some of it I have memorized, but I still need to memorize the sharps and flats for each key, etc. He has practice videos on line that are really helpful.
Float on, It reminds me of classical ballet. You have to memorize all of the combinations and then you build on that foundation. I forget names often, so I hope you're right! I have a good memory for other things, though.
pinkytoe, The pitch part is natural for me. It's interesting how different people are. I'm auditory and also "feel" it when someone is singing the wrong note.

I really like having a positive focus and learning something new. When I go back to the songs that I know, it's like the music is jumping off the page at me. Now I can recognize the quarter notes, triplets, etc. It's not as hard as I thought.

[Gardenarian]

That's cool that you're learning this new skill and way of using your brain and voice!

I learned to read as a kid - it's very easy when you're playing piano because the music is entirely analogous to the keyboard.
As for sight reading for singing, part of that depends on how good your pitch is. My sense of pitch is practically non-existent; my dd has near-perfect pitch and learned to read in a couple of weeks (but I think it's easier for kids.)

[awakenedsoul]

Gardenarian, My voice teacher in NY said I have perfect pitch. You're right, it does make it much easier. I noticed in class that at least half of the people struggle with pitch. For me, that's the easy part. It's just there. It's weird, it seems like the students who are good with the theory don't have the voices. I have the voice, but I need to catch up on the theory. It's like a different talent. A lot of the conductors I worked with really know music, but they can't sing. It's not their talent. It's bizarre...
I definitely feel like once we start singing music, and I have the first note, I can do it. I do better on the songs than the static stuff. I can just go with the flow once he starts playing.
I really like using my brain in this new way. It feels healthy. He works a lot on speed, and it's challenging.
He plays the keyboard on the practice tapes. If I work as a sight singer, I will only be given the first note. So, I have to hear the scale in my head and jump from note to note. We do all these exercises to develop that ability.