Accelerating reading for band student
Found in: Reading
Sue L., California
My shy, gentle 9th-grade girl student who is about mid-way through TFMM has started high school band playing vibraphone with a drill sergeant teacher who expects her to read sophisticated and complex rhythms and notes, and she is struggling. She said “It’s all been fun learning to play songs, but now I have to get serious and read music”. I told her it’s a process, not instant, and I’ll support her any way I can. I recommended a note-reading book at her grandmother’s request. I would really appreciate any ideas you have on how to help her.
Kerry V., Australia
Have her dissect Read ‘n Play, if you haven’t already done so. Have her do them and then repeat them as often as she can, including working through the RR and RN books over and over. Repetition is the way to learn. Also, have her bring the music in to you and you show her how to grasp it in a way she can understand.
One of my students has been stressed due to music at school. She, and other students, do not understand the instructions of the teacher. She throws it all out there and expects the kids to know what she is talking about. I’m able to help her during lesson time.
Maureen K., California
If she can bring you the music, I’ll wager that if she is in TFMM, she has the skills to figure it out, with your help. Bands tend to move slowly. They will play the same repertoire of pieces for some time.
Laurie Richards, Nebraska
Rhythm will be the most challenging. If the songs are ones she can look up on YouTube (or anywhere else) and listen to them, that will help immensely with the rhythm. Then she can ‘reverse-engineer’ the rhythms to the page – much less time-consuming than learning them solely from the page.