| Reading music opens up a whole new world to | | | | then try it out - learn by doing! Look at the rise |
| you. Learning this elegant and precise language | | | | and fall of the notes on the staff. The shape that |
| gives you access to classical, romantic and | | | | you see in the music is the shape that will be |
| modern music. Whether you want to play | | | | reproduced on the piano. Sheet music is totally |
| Beethoven's Fur Elise or Songs from the latest | | | | logical. |
| Broadway Musicals, you can learn to read piano | | | | Every music symbol has a specific meaning. It is |
| sheet music in just 60 minutes a week. | | | | all written in code. Your 60 minutes a week will be |
| Music notation, as we know it today, was devised | | | | spent decoding it! All it takes is 10 minutes a day. |
| over 1,000 years ago by an Italian monk called | | | | Little and often has a powerful effect on your |
| Guiddo of Arezzo. He decided to write music on 5 | | | | learning. Set yourself a clear goal of what you |
| parallel lines called a staff. A clef was placed at | | | | want to achieve in 10 minutes. Here are some |
| the beginning to give the notes a fixed pitch. It | | | | suggestions: |
| was invented specifically for choristers, who | | | | #1 - Look for identical patterns in the music. |
| otherwise had to commit to memory a vast | | | | #2 - Clap through the rhythm. |
| collection of Gregorian Chants. | | | | #3 - Say the names of the notes in the first 2 |
| Learning to read music is both theoretical and | | | | bars. |
| practical. You will progress much faster if you are | | | | #4 - Which is highest note in the piece? |
| sat in front of your piano. Study the first bar and | | | | #5 - Which is the lowest? |