A214 - Score reading tips

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Score reading tips
  • Look at the score
    • Note the tempo marking, key and time signatures, textures and tessituras
    • Mark with a highlighter important beat-groupings, rhythmic segments, or even bar lines
  • Listen without the score to familiarise yourself with the style of the music
    • Count the pulse while you listen
    • When you turn to the score, match your counting immediately the music starts.
    • Once look at the score, partly look, partly listen, for confirmation of what you hope you will be hearing
  • For very fast tempos, try following bar lines only to begin with, tracking them with your finger if necessary
  • Read the score and be aware of...
    • dynamic changes
    • varites of texture
    • various tessituras
    • ... and try to match these to the music on the page
  • Use a highlighter (or pencil marks) to note places you should be looking in the score - landmarks
  • Watch out for part crossing (overlapping), especially in chamber music
  • Follow the most interesting part, but once you are familiar with the music, try following other parts, possibly one with plenty of rests. Count carefully!
  • When your score reading is fluent, try to look ahead: usually one (average-length) bar is sufficient. This helps you to anticipate surprises and keeps your place

... and remember: rarely do you read every note! So don't panic!!

Summary based on that in A214, Unit 14, p.26
Home : OU-ers' sites : A214 : My A214 Notes : Score reading tips

Taken from A214, Unit 8

Last updated: 22 April, 2004