I'm passionate about teaching my students to read notes because I want them to love learning an instrument and play in orchestra. How can it be fun to play an instrument and perform in a group when you're always lost because of note reading struggles?
I begin by teaching students to read open strings and we memorize those notes first. I explain to students that they must remember where those notes are 'parked' on the staff. (I tell a story about forgetting where I parked at a parking lot and how I was wandering around forever to find it.). Students practice drawing open strings on my staff packets - a dry erase packet with a staff and expo marker. Within minutes, students are able remember those few notes, draw them, and play them.
Next students work on my ROTE to NOTE packet. This resource is awesome because the 'rote' portion is notated like notes on the staff. Without even realizing it, students are 'reading' note names on the staff. This helps them transition to actual note reading. I've been using this book for the last few years and have it's been my little secret. Now it's available on my TPT store!
Rote to Note has been great for my students! On the note reading pages - I make sure students practice each exercise 10 times to GO PRO. Note reading takes a great deal of repetition and I like how each note reading line has the 'go pro' tracker to help students remember to repeat each line as they practice.
These tips help my students when it's time to read music from a page:
1. Always keep perfect play position and hover left hand fingers OVER the tapes.
2. Focus on the notes and don't look back and forth between the notes and your fingers. Check hand position before you start to make sure everything is lined up, then trust your brain to get the fingers to land in the right place.
3. While reading notes, always look ahead to the next note while playing. This helps you read notes faster.
4. When practicing at home, only move the bow AFTER the left hand is set on the tape. That little bit of space between the notes helps develop accuracy.
2. Focus on the notes and don't look back and forth between the notes and your fingers. Check hand position before you start to make sure everything is lined up, then trust your brain to get the fingers to land in the right place.
3. While reading notes, always look ahead to the next note while playing. This helps you read notes faster.
4. When practicing at home, only move the bow AFTER the left hand is set on the tape. That little bit of space between the notes helps develop accuracy.
Last week I had students play this game and it help them so much with developing note reading skills! After completing the activity I asked students to raise their hands if the game helped them get better at note reading and almost the entire class shot up their hands. It's so easy and simple, but so effective. HIGHLY recommend this for beginners - and for days when you need a sub plan.
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