Learn to Read Music

This book is THE most useful book I've purchased and read on how to read music so far. I have just started learning to play the violin (I am in my mid-40s)and although all my life I've sung and music is, and has always been, a huge part of my life(many of my family members are accomplished musicians)I've never played an instrument or had any formal musical theory training. This book is the reference I have gone back to again and again as I progress with my violin and I have questions or areas that aren't clear to me (such as the concepts of major and minor scale, flats/sharps/accidentals and how they came about). . not only does this book take you from the very basics to the complex, Howard Shanet takes the time to explain WHY certain things are the way they are in written music. I was struggling with some concepts and when my teacher explained them to me I didn't get it....I looked it up in a smaller book on music theory and the explanation was there but I still didn't quite get it . . and then I looked up the subject (this happened to be accidentals/flats and sharps and also time meters) in this book and because Howard Shanet explained why sharps and flats are written the way they are, I was able to understand the concept and work beyond it. Just an excellent book and I recommend it to anyone learning to read and play music. It is true, this book will not teach you how to play any instrument, BUT without the basics and theory in this book it would be very difficult for me to progress with my violin playing. Highly recommend it.

I have wanted to take violin lessons and have finally found a fantastic teacher locally. Upon starting my lessons, I realized I did not remember the notes from taking piano as a child. I researched on Amazon and found this book by Howard Shanet on Learn to Read Music, and it is absolutely wonderful! Easy to understand, and my violin teacher just told me I am doing great in my new endeavor. I will be getting one for my grandson who is taking piano and is 7 y/o The book arrived quickly, well packaged and much appreciated. Thank you Amazon and Amazon sellers, once again you have excelled in providing great service and sellers.

This book has been invaluable for me. I'm in my 40's with no musical background and purchased this book when I started playing the Violin over 2 years ago. I read the book cover to cover when I received it just to get an understanding about reading music. Over the past 2 years, I've pulled this book out so many times, this book has been a gem for me. I'm now at 2 years 7 months playing and I just pulled the book out again to try and understand the melodic minor, and harmonic minor scales-I get it now. I understand the subject is dry but the topic is what it is and this book helps me to understand the subject.

I would recommend ‘Learn to Read Music’ to people who already play by ear: perhaps fiddle, mandolin, electric bass or other instruments notated in a single clef, as well as singers. The author’s target audience seems to be people looking to plunk out melodies on the piano, I’m ambivalent about recommending the book to keyboard players or guitarists: On one hand there’s so much specialized material for those instruments you’re better off learning detailed nomenclature in that context. Yet this book covers topics not usually found in guitar/piano books including: vocal beaming of notes, notating repeated notes, alternating notes, and entire measures. While transposition is not explicitly covered, the different clefs are. If you’re a songwriter who wants to arrange for voices or non-transposing instruments, the material will teach you enough to craft basic parts in concert pitch. The language is very conversational and easy to read. Finally I would not recommend the book to anyone looking for thorough orchestral or jazz arranging coverage – see Gardener Read and the Norton Notation Guide for that kind of depth. Nor does the book cover actual manuscript writing (see Mark McGrain).

This small book is the best book ever to teach you to read music. It assumes you know nothing. By the time you finish, you will be able to read music. Over the years, I have read many books on this subject. None of them come close to this book. This is the best book I have seen on this subject. Doesn't matter whether you are a singer, or want to play an instrument. If you want to read music, this book is Highly recommended.

I have read many books on music theory and have never and I mean NEVER found a book that teaches so much, so well, in so little space. His language is succinct and to the point. Even though it was written about 50 years ago I consider this the best book on learning musical notation, especially rhythm which he spends a great deal of time on because of its importance and difficulty. After you the book, it won't be difficult. A must for all piano teachers or just anyone who wants to learn how to read music with the least waste of time.

I ordered this to try to help my daughter when she is playing the piano. She's 8 years old and has been taking weekly lessons for a year. I took lessons when I was her age, but if you don't use it you lose it. I thought this book would help refresh my memory. It's hard to order books online because you can't see what you're getting. I was disappointed when I got it because there is more to read than I'd like. I think I'll stick to ordering books in a store where I can pick them up and look through them. I gave it 3 stars because it's more than I wanted to read. I never read the book, so I can't speak to what's inside. It might be a great book.

I was very anxious that I would never understand how to read music - especially by reading a book, but let me say this -- you can. The first thing that calmed my fear was learning that music is divided into two parts, Rhythm (how long tones last) and Pitch (how high/low tones are). I read that a second time and said...that was easy to understand --The book is well written and I am learning.

I bought this book last year for my Dad as he said he wanted to learn to read sheet music, but having seen it sat on the bookcase unused after 6 months had passed I decided to read it myself. I learnt a little about notation at school but I have to be honest I forgot a lot of this, but this book really helped me to recall the basics and then continue on to learn the more intricate symbols and activities. Now don't be fooled, it's not going to be easy and it's not going to be fully understood in one read through. You will need to be prepared to actually "study" the book, much like a student. You will need to keep notes and also, ideally, need the use of a piano or a keyboard to learn the practical side of reading sheet music. I personally found it best to learn a little each day rather than read the book from cover to cover in one sitting. The diagrams and descriptions may seem very easy at the beginning but they will start to become more challenging and if you skip chapters you will not be able to fully read sheet music. That's the beauty of keeping notes. I kept going over things I didn't understand again and again until I had fully understood the lesson. Sometimes I would leave it overnight and continue from the same point the next day in sheer determination to understand all that I needed to. Basically If you really want to learn then this book will definitely help you on your way. It's not the end of learning sheet music but the beginning so always keep your eyes open for other books on this subject.

This book is a must have! I always felt less of a singer because I couldn't read music. I understood the theory but something was missing since I've always tried to learn by myself and I thought this was one of those things were you need a teacher to really grasp the whole idea. I am half way reading this book and the improvement is amazing!! Although I think that if you REALLY want to learn you need to give it more than just 2 days to practice all the exercises and re read it as much as you need. The exercises are so simple and you just go page by page fast, understanding and learning no problem. If I can learn that easy being English my second language, then you can see how great this little book is...

This is a very easy to understand book on how to read music - even without an instrument in your hands. Taken from the author's well proven seminars that promise to teach the audience to read and understand standard notation in less than a day. As this is a book rather than a roadshow with instruments at the ready to demo what's being said, the book claims a bit much considering most musicians take years to perfect their sight reading (and mines still pretty poor after 45 years) However most of my students struggle with timing and duration of notes rather than the third elemnt - pitch. This book is an excellent practice tool for learning timing. The book focuses on what it does well - note duration and poly-rhythm notation. Once you've cracked that you'll only have to practice playing the right notes - when, and how long, can be learnt from this book. Well worth the cover price if you need to read - but you'll still have to practice.

Super comprehensive, easy read. Learning loads

Excellent