Re: [Harp-L] learning to read music

[MundHarp@xxxxxxx]

I believe that the more knowledge a person can acquire, the better.
I honestly can't think of any disadvantages to being able to read music,  
only beneits. In the same way, being able to read and write words and 
sentences  is a very useful thing to be able to do.
I am dyslexic, and it took me till I was 6 years old to learn to read and  
write English, and now the best part of a lifetime later I am still very  
slow at reading music! I remain hopeless at "sight reading"... But the more  
one tries, the easier it gets. If you want to get regular "session work" 
reading  music is essential.
It is mostly necessary to transpose the music from one key to another when  
deciding what notes to play on one's harmonica, depending on the key of the 
 instrument.
There are LOTS of web sites that can help in learning musical notation. For 
 example:
<< _http://datadragon.com/education/reading/_ 
(http://datadragon.com/education/reading/)  >>
As far as I'm concerned, it is better to spend the time to learn standard  
musical notation, instead of relying on "Tabs"...
However, some of the greatest musicians ever couldn't read a note of  
music... Louis Armstrong, Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller).. & Little  Walter 
as well, as far as I know.
 
John "Whiteboy" Walden
Cebu City
Philippines
 
 
In a message dated 1/29/2011 10:16:17 P.M. Malay Peninsula Standard ,  
khalifa30@xxxxxxxxx writes:

Howdy  Folks,

I am a newbie who is learning to play harmonica (with a teacher)  after
carrying one around for over twenty years.  I have  little-to-no
musical background, and am interested in learning to read  music while
I am learning harp.  I realize -- having done a search of  the Harp-l
archives -- that whether or not to learn music is  somewhat
contentious.  I realize that it is not necessary, but I am  interested
in learning, and was wondering if anyone had advice about books  or
ways to learn music while simultaneously studying harp.

Many  thanks in advance for your  advice,

cass