Books for learning to read music?

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Stefan Kac
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Books for learning to read music?

Post by Stefan Kac »

I just started teaching an adult student who plays fairly well but does not read music at all. Learning to read is his primary motivation for taking lessons. Does anyone have any recommendations for books that might be helpful? I think that a typical band or tuba method book would probably gloss over too much, and he already has a fair amount of music to use for practice. I'm looking for something to recommend to him that focuses on what we might call "theory", but starts from the very beginning. (clefs, note names, etc.) Any suggestions would be appreciated.d
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Dan Schultz
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Post by Dan Schultz »

I know you asked about books, but this web site has a lot of information if your student would want to study on-line:

http://www.dolmetsch.com/theoryintro.htm
Dan Schultz
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Current 'stable'... Rudolf Meinl 5/4, Marzan (by Willson) euph, King 2341, Alphorn, and other strange stuff.
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Dean E
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Re: Books for learning to read music?

Post by Dean E »

Stefan Kac wrote: . . . . Does anyone have any recommendations for books that might be helpful? I think that a typical band or tuba method book would probably gloss over too much, and he already has a fair amount of music to use for practice. I'm looking for something to recommend to him that focuses on what we might call "theory", but starts from the very beginning. (clefs, note names, etc.) Any suggestions would be appreciated.d
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music Theory starts at the beginning and easily transitions to composing.

An 80-page paperback (copyright 1982) Basic Guide to How to Read Music (Paperback)
by Helen Cooper
contains the basics of pitch, rhythm, keys, scales, and chords, as well as a useful glossary.
Dean E
[S]tudy politics and war, that our sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. Our sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy . . . in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry [and] music. . . . John Adams (1780)
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