Language As It Applies To Reading Music
Lost In Translation? or What’s in a name?
To be fluent is the ability to translate what we see or feel instantly into language. So it should be with the reading of music.
When we read a note on the staff such as this one. We are taught that name of this note is “G”. When learning to play piano, for instance, we learn that the there is a key called “G”. So we match them up and play the correct note. I am not convinced that this method of translation is the most effective one for reading music for your instrument. Translating a note on the staff into English and then re-translating the English letter to a particular key (or string, or fingering) is unnecessarily complicated and slow. Better that seeing the placement of the note on the staff is directly followed by the striking of the correct key without any regard as to what the note may be called.
While knowing note letter names remains important in the studying of music, a stronger and clearer connection between the music on the page and the playing of the instrument can be forged. I believe it is worth future study. To that end, I am near completion of a virtual piano and staff to practice this connection online. Keep in touch, and check back soon.
Marcos Levy
The New Learning Project