Re: [Harp-L] learning to read music

[Arthur Jennings <timeistight@xxxxxxxxx>]

Armstrong was taught to read music by Professor Peter Davis at the the New
Orleans Home for Colored Waifs, where he had been sent after firing a pistol
in the air for New Year's Eve. He improved his reading when he joined Fate
Marable's band to play on Mississippi steamboats. Later on he held positions
in large bands (like Fletcher Henderson or Erskine Tait) which required
reading.

On Sat, Jan 29, 2011 at 6:37 PM, <MundHarp@xxxxxxx> wrote:

> 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
>
>


-- 
Arthur Jennings
http://www.timeistight.com