Yes. This is the most intelligent primer on reading music. As a fairly poor sight reader I realised that I was de-coding too much, and not reading enough. This lady has identified exactly why people struggle with sight reading. As she says, the title of this video for example can be absorbed AS A WHOLE: "Reading music some tricks from Margaret Fabrizio". You only need to look at it for a second to know the sentence. Good sight readers read in sentences or even small paragraphs, not note by note. But for some, patterns in music are more difficult than rows of words, and there is definitely an aptitude for these pattern recognitions.
"Let go of your pride." Most challenging first step to edifying your musical ability. Love this video, Margaret, you really gave me a fresh perspective on sight reading and actually, great wisdom for life purposes :) Always look ahead!
What a great video. I gave up on my dream to play piano many years ago as too difficult so, Inspired by "Elvis" I moved to the guitar. lol After watching this video, you have rekindled my desire to start again. Even at my age, (76) I know I can fulfill my dream to play piano and check off one of my "bucket list" challenges. Thank you so much for this video.
People miss out by NOT clicking on this video. Her lesson is a life changer, if you really put it to practice. She is a great teacher NOT condescending AT ALL, but rather encouraging. No matter where you are at in your music, you feel like you CAN get it by following her advice! Thanks Margaret!
This is a really useful video. The importance of reading ahead cannot be overstated. You have a great attitude and are a great teacher because of your positivity and insightful knowledge. Many thanks.
I love this type of instruction from a great teacher. Tell it like it is. I find some musicians need an ego check and need to be told. Well said by a very qualified and quality person.
How many hours a day do you read text, if you were to add all the minutes up of every day? 7? 9? 12? What about being a primary school student? Now imagine at an early age reading music notation for the same amount of time that you read text. By the time you reached adulthood, any score that you looked at could be heard internally if you chose to read it through. That's how top level composers and conductors are able to read an orchestral score and know exactly how it's meant to sound like without ever having heard it played.
Margaret. I am one of those people who had to recently go back to the basics and really learn how to make my sight reading stronger. Your advice here has uplifted and inspired me. Thank you so much.
Oh, Margaret, thank you sooo much!! You are an unbelievable teacher and person, I have learned so much with this video! I will practice reading in a more enlightened way.
You are a treasure. I've been playing the piano and guitar for about 15 years, but mostly play by ear. I can "decode" music, as I've done with some of Beethoven's and Chopin's works, but my goodness is it painful. Thank you for encouraging me to drop my pride and play things that are at my reading level, I really needed to hear that.
This was absolutely beautiful. Margaret herself, her words, her delivery, her message. A very unique video that stands out like a diamond in the rough.
Dear Margaret - I am SO HAPPY I found this - what an incredible 10 minutes - I've watched this twice, followed your directions for a week, and found myself steadily improving - I limited myself to 20 minutes a day of sightreading with those goofy little songs you recommended in beginner books, so much like "See John walk. See Sally run. See Sally and John run." kinda stuff. Folks, *listen* to her and do it, and you WILL improve. Trust me! =]
+Kevin Roddy It also helps if you can identify things a triad perhaps. you don't have to 'read' all three notes, trust that the info is already in your brain someplace. The minute you think you know what you are looking at, look at the other hand, look ahead.
+atree3 Thanks for your message! =] Yup, I know my triads, and sevenths, and root, 1st, and 2nd for most of the keys I play - F, G, D, C, and Bb. I'm a harp player of about 11 years now, and play in healthcare settings - I also have a good foundation in modal music too, and play Dorian, Mixolydian, and Aeolian in addition to Ionian, of course =] One last thing I'm struggling with, but finally getting a handle on - and it's just memorization, really - are the notes on ledger lines above the bass clef. I'm okay with ledger lines above the Treble. I play a lot of music with roving arppegiated chords with crossunders and such, and trying to read some of those ledger notes are tricky, but like everything, if you spend a few minutes a day - just 5 or 10 minutes, and REALLY focus on the problem - eventually you'll solve it. Again, thanks for your message, and Aloha from Honolulu!
That was the best piano lesson I have ever had, and you didn't even use a piano! God bless you for your generous spirit in sharing this advice and knowledge.
This is exactly what i needed to hear. I am 16 and stared piano about a year ago, and i currently can play rather difficult pieces, but i cant read at all, i merely practice the same measure multiple times. My ambition in life ( although it seems impossible ) is to be a concert pianist. Although it may not happen, i do believe that the joy that comes along with reading music is unique and an amazing accomplishment. Thank you for this video i really believe it helped tremendously.
I found this video and the lady's presentation a joy to watch. Her sense of enthusiasm and passion for her subject was almost tangible and I took away some good tips. Thank you Ma'am you are a true professional.
I also tended to decode' but no more having listened to this lady, just hearing her is inspirational and I shall mend my ways! Thanks for posting and God bless Margaret Fabrizio.
This particular topic is well-timed for me. It was very strange to open this up and see your latest, helpful wisdom on a topic so close to me... I absolutely adore you!
I'm so glad I found this video. The minute you started talking, I started making notes. Your approach really makes sense. Your passion for music really shines through. Thank you so much.
You have words of great wisdom and I concur with everything you say. I am self taught and I'm now a jobbing professional piano, organ and keyboard player. I'm no virtuoso, but I do sight read and arrange pieces and understand the theory and techniques. It was all down to much hard work and a thirst to learn in my early days. But your wise words are still most welcome, so thank you for your frank and encouraging insight. AND, I do hope that others will hear them and benefit from them.
Thank you. Such wisdom here. I watched this years ago and came looking for it for inspiration today. I'm a few months into improving my reading. You are right, there is no joy like being able to read through music books. I can do this for viola (it's easier with 1 clef!) but not with piano yet. But it's coming. I'm right back on beginner books but when a piece goes off quite well, there is nothing like it. Such joy and you don't care that it's 'simple' when you have just managed it at tempo straight off. Loved hearing your thoughts here
This was incredibly helpful. I realized I was definitely decodeing, and you're right. You have to put aside your pride. Thanks for all of the help. I will definitely practice this technique, and I believe it will have way better results.
I've watched this before, but honestly I needed to hear it again. You truly are an inspiration, not only me but, to so many people. I will take your advice and get back to where I was before. Thank you for the help :)
This has really helped. My father was a professional trumpet player many years ago and he always reckoned he was at least two or more bars ahead as he was playing. I could never understand it but now, like Ella has written below, it's clicked. Thank you very much indeed, Margaret.
I am currently a sophomore in high school who plays percussion. When I get new pieces of music from my band director I think to myself "oh this is gonna be hard." It's always been a struggle and I've always wanted to be good at not just playing percussion,but to read music nice and thoroughly. Thanks ma'am for giving me tips on how to improve reading music.I think I'm heading towards the right direction. :]
What great advice you have given us. I was truly inspired to hear what you had to say and now I feel like I can do it. I have always been frustrated by trying to sight read, but i guess I was doing it wrong the whole time. I will do like you say and go back to the beginning and start with the most basic and build my skills slowly and steadily. The turtle wins the race every time!
The advice given in this video is the best I have heard from any of my music teachers. Music is after all not a contest for me, it is a joyful experience.
I'm amazed at his teaching lady. Mrs. can not imagine how much I learned from this video of yours. Simply amazing! Thank you! I studied saxophone in Brazil. And the sight-reading is the next step for me. Especially in more complicated scores with faster notes in Allegro or Presto.
Hello Margaret You are an adorable woman 🥰..... this movie is really Incredible. So to the point.... It Woke Me Up. Thanx. By the way, i play the Alto recorder🤪
