Learning How to Read Piano Music
Learning how to read piano music may not appear as an easy task at first. However, if you start from the basics of musical theory and commit yourself to constant practice, you will be able to play piano skillfully by reading notes and sheet music. In fact, lots of people have become virtuoso pianists by taking piano private lessons during their childhood. Luckily, if you never had the privilege to take any music theory class and instructional piano sessions when you were younger, you can still learn how to play piano by understanding the fundamentals of note reading. That's what we will discuss in this short article.
The Basics of Note Reading
Although it is impossible to discuss the wide spectrum of knowledge relevant to written music in this brief article, we can still tackle some of the basic theories that will help you become a skillful piano player in the future. To be able to comprehend piano music, you must be able to read notes which you can learn from theory class. In note reading, the first thing you need to be familiar with is the “clef.” A clef consists of five horizontal lines that are parallel to each other, and are typically seen in all standard written music. Notes alternate between lines and spaces.
The Two Kinds of Clefs
There are two kinds of clefs. The treble clef (sometimes called the “G” clef) is used to indicate notes played by your right hand. The bass clef, which is also referred to as the “F” clef, is used to indicate the notes played by your left hand. Both the treble and bass clefs can be seen in most written piano pieces (the treble clef appearing on top and the bass clef appearing at the bottom of the written musical piece).
Instructional Tools for Learning Piano Music
To become familiar with the clefs, notes, time signatures, 12 major and minor keys, and other vital information related to piano music, it is helpful to use a piano manual or instructional textbook that leads you to a step-by-step learning approach. There are many instructional manuals available out there which have been proven by piano teachers to be effective educational tools. For example, the Bastien Piano Course is a series of lessons that are designed to teach you how to play piano by reading notes. Piano private lessons consist of exercises that are designed to help you become familiar with the fundamentals. To study scales, arpeggios, and note progressions, you may also need to take the Hanon Studies. The Hanon contains progressive exercises designed to help you gain musical familiarity, hand flexibility, and eye-hand coordination.
The Importance of Private Piano Lessons
Musical experts and virtuoso pianists agree that the best way to learn how to read and play piano music is to hire an instructor or private teacher. By regularly having a one-on-one theory class and hands-on sessions with an experienced mentor, you can truly improve in your playing and become a highly accomplished piano player. In professional piano private lessons, an effective instructor can help you gain familiarity with musical theory and also correct bad habits which can impede your playing. Through constant practice, discipline, and commitment to learning piano music, you can become a successful musician in the near future.