Who here can read music?

Goodfoot · #81 (**permalink**) 08-12-2010, 12:55 PM

Well, you always play "what you feel" wether you read or not. The chart will simply tell you where accents are etc, but how you prepare and play them is up to you. Unless everything is precisely written out (like a symphonic score) the chart is usually an aid, like a road map, but how you play it (or drive it) is up to you. Buddy had his own band, and could rehearse as much as he wanted. If you are a pro, who like most, play several diferent gigs, reading is a must.

Goodfoot · #82 (**permalink**) 08-12-2010, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malletjazz

I won't correct you - that's not my place - but I will say that your experience is decidedly different from mine. Yes, there are many musicians whose playing suffers if they are asked to read music, but there are also many players who not only can read with remarkable accuracy, but still bring great energy and musicality to their performances while reading. It isn't easy, but reading skills are like any other skill - they can be developed with practice, and that includes the ability to read and play musically simultaneously, whether sight-reading for the first time, or reading a piece of music that has been prepared previously.

Malletjazz, you have beatifully described the diference between a pro and an amateur!

TheRev>R.I.P. · #83 (**permalink**) 08-16-2010, 08:48 PM

It really depends on what your playing drums for...If you're jamming with your band in the garage and writing all the beats yourself, why would you NEED to know how to read music? Unless your memory sucks and you can't remember the beats you wrote yourself. If you're in any other kind of organized band, like a church band or a symphony or orchestra, of course you're gonna want, and probably need to know how to read the parts that were previously written for the particular piece you're asked to play. I can read just because I started playing in the band at school and went on to the jazz enseble at UT but, in my own band, there's no need whatsoever.

Goodfoot · #84 (**permalink**) 09-01-2010, 06:53 PM

Here is an example of why you should be able to read. It is Swedish drummer Par Lindvall in rehearsal for the musical "Chess". If you don't read, you wont get a gig like this even if you're the last drummer on earth!

YouTube - Per Lindvall plays "Chess"

Infero Exicution · #85 (**permalink**) 09-04-2010, 10:47 AM

I finally decided to wipe off the dust of my "Basic Drumming" book I got from the 2 drum lessons i received. I'm gonna' take a look at it today.
I SHALL LEARN!

**dtxtremeiiispecial** · #86 (**permalink**) 09-05-2010, 01:09 AM

So how did it go with the book, IE?

Infero Exicution · #87 (**permalink**) 09-05-2010, 03:02 PM

not too well. I think i'm under the first category in this poll.

I honestly can't
But I did make a thread if you want to help me out.

**dtxtremeiiispecial** · #88 (**permalink**) 09-05-2010, 04:08 PM

I suppose we could give it a shot. It would be much easier to do side by side with a drumset and an open book.

How can I help? What are you trying to learn? You don't by any chance live in the Chicago area, do you?

xxvenom13xx · #89 (**permalink**) 09-05-2010, 04:53 PM

Or I could definitely give you a crash course dude(:

Infero Exicution · #90 (**permalink**) 09-05-2010, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtxtremeiiispecial

I suppose we could give it a shot. It would be much easier to do side by side with a drumset and an open book.

How can I help? What are you trying to learn? You don't by any chance live in the Chicago area, do you?

you can help by posting some stuff in the thread.

heres a link:
Music reading and time exercises

I live 4 hours (drive) from Chicago....