Learn to read music with a music reading tutor

Why is music reading important for a musician?

Learning to read music is very important. One aspect of it is that it allows you to access all music in the world that has been written using the universal music notation system. This means all instruments and even orchestral music, film music and musicals.

Learning to read music also gives you a connection to your instrument. For example dynamics. We can define dynamics briefly as how loud or soft we can play a note, a phrase or a whole section of a piece.

On the soft range we have Pianissimo which is the softest you can play, it is usually abbreviated with a double P (pp) - sometimes composer may use the expression “quassi niente”. Piano is a soft sound (p), and it’s followed by a not so soft or Mezzo-piano (mp).

When it comes to the louder side of it, the first level of a loud volume is called Mezzo-forte (mf), followed by Forte (f) or loud, and finally very loud or Fortissimo (ff).

So just having these indications in your music sheet can give you the chance to improve your expression on your instrument.

Learning to read music is a very powerful skill to have. Learning to read one note on the music staff means learning to read that note no matter what instrument you play. That means that you could take a piano sheet and learn it on the guitar, or take a flute piece and play it on the violin. This also means you could take an orchestral arrangement and play it on the piano.

Can music reading be hard? 

It can actually be. This is why it is important to learn how to read music with a tutor or teacher. Learning music with a teacher is a great way to learn efficiently and with more ease.

Reading music can be tough because there are many things that come into play when learning to read the notes on the Staff. The first thing is the clef. Learning to read music means learning to read the notes that a particular clef establishes. There are three clefs and each one reorganises the notes on the Staff.

The second thing is time signature, this means the value and duration of each beat and measure in the piece. 4/4, 3/4, 6/8, these are time signatures and they all mean a different thing.

Key signature is also very important, this gives you the number of accidentals, these are sharps or flats.

Lastly you have the notes: each note is located on the Staff and depending on its location each note receives a different name; C, D, E, F, G, etc. The note itself has a figure and this figure tells you the duration of the note.

As you can see, learning to read music is not so simple. But learning with a teacher can make it simple and fun. You can visit Superprof and find a great music teacher for you. On the platform you will find a long list of music teachers in New Zealand.

If you are looking to learn music theory and music reading, type down that subject and your location and a wide catalog of music teachers “near me” will be at your disposal.

Learning music reading with a private music teacher in New Zealand

Learning with a teacher can make things quite easy for you because learning with a music teacher has several advantages.

By learning to read music with a teacher in New Zealand, you will have a consistent schedule dedicated solely to the learning of this subject. The music teacher will figure out a method for you to learn everything you need to learn to read music.

When you learn with a private music teacher, you learn with someone who is there to answer any question or concern you may have. This is invaluable and no other method has this, excerpt learning with a teacher who tailors their lesson to you.

If you are interested in learning to read music and you live in New Zealand, visit Superprof and enter the skill or subject you would like to learn, plus your location and you will find the best teacher for you.