Sight Reading Development, am I screwing my self over in the future

michaelc · #1 03-24-2010, 08:18 AM

I've been working on my site reading a lot lately, but I'm running into some problems. As I was first learning to read I would always say the name of the note in my head as I read/played it. But now as I am getting into more sycopated material, I am finding that harder and harder to do. I find my fingers going on auto while my brain counts the beat. I've tried to force myself to do both, but I just can't seem to do it. Any tips on how to correct this, or will this work itself out if I keep pushing on through.

Thanks,
Mike

PJSShearer · #2 03-24-2010, 08:29 AM

Assuming you are playing the chart correctly, then getting your fingers to go "on auto" as you put it is surely the object of the exercise - what does saying the name of the note in your head as well add to the equation?. Stop it immediately and enjoy the music!!.

Jim Campbell · #3 03-24-2010, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michaelc

I've been working on my site reading a lot lately, but I'm running into some problems. As I was first learning to read I would always say the name of the note in my head as I read/played it. But now as I am getting into more sycopated material, I am finding that harder and harder to do. I find my fingers going on auto while my brain counts the beat. I've tried to force myself to do both, but I just can't seem to do it. Any tips on how to correct this, or will this work itself out if I keep pushing on through.

Thanks,
Mike

i'm not sure thats a problem.....getting the notes on auto is the goal afic,and count the timing....i do the same with chord studies.....but as i get better i can't say the notes as fast as i can play them,but i can hear them

JimmyM · #4 03-24-2010, 08:47 AM

you're trying to run before you can crawl. don't worry about practicing in time. you'll do way more for your sight reading by working on the sheet music until you get the notes right, THEN worry about it being in time. since you don't have the demands of the gig to worry about, don't treat sight reading practice like it's a gig. besides, sight reading improves more by actually learning the music you're trying to read than blasting through a sheet once and forgetting about it.

MonetBass · #5 03-24-2010, 08:50 AM

Maybe instead of saying the note names, just think them and the interval between it and the preceding note. And like Jimmy says above, take it slow at first and then work up to tempo. Keep at it, man!

JTE · #6 03-24-2010, 12:38 PM

I found thinking intervals helped my reading a LOT. Instead of thinking "C to E", or even worse "C is 3rd fret/3rd string then it's E, which is 2nd fret/2nd string, or do I want to play it on the same string up at the 7th fret??", I start with finding the first note, then thinking "major 3rd" so I know at least two places that note is without concern for its name.

John

electracoyote · #7 03-24-2010, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michaelc

I've been working on my site reading a lot lately, but I'm running into some problems. As I was first learning to read I would always say the name of the note in my head as I read/played it. But now as I am getting into more sycopated material, I am finding that harder and harder to do. I find my fingers going on auto while my brain counts the beat. I've tried to force myself to do both, but I just can't seem to do it. Any tips on how to correct this, or will this work itself out if I keep pushing on through.

Thanks,
Mike

I'm a bass and guitar teacher. "Say It And Play It" works great in the beginning, but when the pieces start to get more complex with key sigs, accidentals, syncopation, etc., it's no longer possible.

Congratulations. You're not a newbie any more. You're evolving.

Now, keep reading. The arbitrary connection between letter of the alphabet, dot on the page, and note on the instrument is much more cognitively subtle now. As JTE said, you should start thinking in terms of intervals and relying on the key sig, fingerboard position, and universal patterns. And like Jimmy said, I still go for the notes first, syncopation second. Just keep reading, you'll be fine.

michaelc · #8 03-30-2010, 07:13 AM

Thanks for the tips guys. I gues the reason I was trying so hard to stay hyper aware of the note I was playing was so I could freely play the same thing in different positions. Intervals are no to hard for me to recognize after spending a year in college doing pretty much nothing else but sight singing interval excercises out of a book. (At 7 o'clock in the morning, seemeI like torture at the time). I guess this might be one of those things where I really just need to master playing everything by reading in the first and third position and then add in 5th and 7th later on. Honestly, as soon as I pay down some debt I'm hoping to get an upright and teach my self to play , (I know everyone says that's pratically impossible, but I think with hard work and determination it can be done) so playing mostly in first position might be a good idea any way.

Jazzerbone · #9 03-30-2010, 06:53 PM

You don't say or think about indivdual letters when reading English do you? Maybe as a child you did but you've mastered the language so you read words instead of letters or phrases instead of words. Well you're doing the same thing learning to read the language of music. Not having to say the notes only means you're getting better.