Re: [Harp-L] Reading Music

[Larry Marks <larry.marks@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Paul Bowering wrote:
> I posted this a couple days back but forgot a subject header so I'll re-ask.
>
> How do you account for the harp's diatonic layout when reading. I can read for
> other instruments but always think in terms of playing a 'C' harmonica
> regardless of what key I'm actually using. Do the readers here make a written or
> mental transposition? Or, do you just read and know where a note lies regardless
> of harp key and position?
>    
Didn't see a response to your question.

I read music because I first learned instruments for which instruction 
usually includes reading - first piano, then trombone. I envision music 
relative to a piano keyboard.

Anyhow, when I read music, I pretend that I am playing in whatever key 
the music specifies. I locate the tonic for the key/instrument/position 
in which I am to actually play. From then on, I just read intervals. I 
have trained myself to quickly read intervals in music, and because of 
the way I practice, those intervals are second nature for me to play on 
my instrument. Brings my sight-reading speed from glacial to slow.

I didn't see it in the discussion under this subject, but my reason for 
wanting to be able to read music lies in playing with larger bands. 
(Same would be true if I were playing with an orchestra.) If I am not a 
guest artist like Larry Adler, there is no time for the leader/conductor 
to sing my part to me and everyone else.

It is not easy to memorize a part for an instrument in a section of a 
large organization right away. Usually, you will slip into and out of 
the lead to harmony and rhythmic counterpoint. Also, your part may be 
similar to but different from the guy with the same instrument sitting 
next to you. It is common to make notes on written music about metric 
variations or other comments the leader may make during rehearsal. To do 
that, you have to know where you are.

But as a member of a small band, I let my ear do the job. I certainly 
don't need to see any written music. I don't even have to be able to 
read the chord blocks. My ear will quickly identify the chord and the 
scale will be immediately obvious to me. I do read music when I am not 
certain of or can't recall some part of the music, say, the bridge from 
a tune or a complicated head. In my case, mostly for jazz.

[Sidetrip] By the way, I am proud to say that I have played mostly as a 
sideman. I believe that sideman is one of the most challenging musical 
jobs and my respect for good sidemen is unbounded. Above all, since a 
sideman's job #1 is making others look good, they have the most 
practiced ears. If I had a mind to, I could probably rip off any pop 
tune on a single hearing. No written music need apply.

  -LM