How I Teach Note Reading
How I Teach Note Reading
The bulk of my students that learn note reading are children just starting out with music. I never start teaching kids before they are at least seven years old. For these beginners I teach all of the fundamentals of music... tempo, key signatures, music theory... etc.
If all you want to do with your guitar is strum and play chords, or jam in a garage band, then you never really have to learn to read music. It can help in lots of ways, but it's not essential. In fact, lots of awesome guitarists don't read a note of music.
The fact is that very few guitarists are learning to read music these days. This is really a shame. Being able to read proficiently is the most empowering skill that a guitarist, or any musician can have.
The ability to read music allows one to play all sorts of music very quickly. The problem with learning to read music is that it takes a long time. It takes years of commitment and persistence as well as daily structured practice.
If…
you want to play guitar in a high school jazz band or… go to college as a guitar/music major or… want to play professionally as a studio musician or "hired gun"… then it is essential that you learn to read music inside and out.
I teach reading through a number of standard instruction books that can be purchased at Lanning Music. These books aren't expensive, usually five or six dollars each.
Though I have stressed here that note reading is somewhat time intensive and difficult, it doesn't have to be painful if you approach it with patience and the right attitude.