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Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.fiddlehangout.com/archive/541/3
Jay.B - Posted - 06/22/2008: 15:07:54
Id say I was a 4 , mind you, Im slowly becoming a 3. Im beginning to become more fluent in my reading ability, so Ive started using that to learn tunes out of books etc. Im a long way from a sight reading pro though!!
liveindixie - Posted - 06/30/2008: 14:06:22
Was I suppose to read something?...................I forgot.
Hi Strung - Posted - 07/01/2008: 04:45:24
I've been trying to learn to play simple songs to teach myself to play by ear. So far, progress is slow but there is progress. I can actually tell I'm improving little by little! 
Plus, I forgot I taught myself to play a particular song from an Irish cd. I mentioned this one in another thread somewhere but I still haven't located the case to tell you what the name of it is. 
I got caught fiddlin'' around
dpopefiddle - Posted - 07/10/2008: 06:22:56
I read tab pretty well. So when learning a new tune, I use TablEdit to transcribe the score to tablature. Then I use the tab and sound to learn the tune. Once the tune is memorized, I don't use any tab or score to play by. So I'd say 4 for me. My bagpipe teacher tried for several years to get me to read music. Then my banjo instructor tried for several years. Now my fiddle teacher wishes I would learn to play by reading a score, but she herself is learning to read tab. She was trained classically, but does well playing fiddle music.
I hope someone summarizes these responses.
What a legacy we leave - a poisoned earth and a malignant mankind.
"Klaatu barada nikto"
Edited by - dpopefiddle on 07/11/2008 04:58:38
Thibodeaux - Posted - 07/10/2008: 07:11:05
I'm definitely a 3, and that's only due to ten years of piano as a kid.
-Amy in South Louisiana
___________________________________________________________
"Lâche pas la patate."
nallycat - Posted - 07/11/2008: 08:35:30
Hi Everyone
This is my first post, I would count myself as a 3, as I took violin lessons for 5 years when I was very young. The desire to play returned just last year, so I built my self a fiddle and started playing last December, I can read music but I transcribe the score to tablature. easier to see with older eyes. I learn the tune and put it to memory, it's better sounding that way.
Thanks for listening
Beati illi qui in circulum circumeunt, fient enim magnae rotae
MirthTones - Posted - 07/11/2008: 21:18:12
2. I have a four-year degree in classical music, so reading music is not a problem. But as soon as I picked up the fiddle, I threw written notes out the window. Now that I am no longer living in Norway (tear), I almost have to use sheet music to learn new tunes--but when I do, I just sing what's written on the page until I have the tune memorized, then figure out how to fiddle it. In effect, then, I am never looking at notes and playing my fiddle at the same time.
tango_grass - Posted - 07/11/2008: 23:11:03
quote:
Originally posted by MirthTones
2. I have a four-year degree in classical music, so reading music is not a problem.
quote:
Now that I am no longer living in Norway (tear)...
+ 
= 
Klondike Waldo - Posted - 07/12/2008: 07:28:53
2 for me, as far as fiddle and banjo , but I started out playing tuba and am a bagpiper music teacher, so depending on what I'm playing and what type of ensemble, I might be reading, including band and choral scores and for learning new pipes tunes (about half as often as by ear) for guitar class, using tabs for guitar class and acoustic string band. I expect to learn fiddle tunes by ear, by notation and by tablature , the same as I learn on banjo. I do not expect to read notation in performance except with an orchestra, concert band or chorus. I never perform from sheet music on bagpipes or banjo or when playing tuba or cornet with a trad jazz band.
deligo ergo renideo
Edited by - Klondike Waldo on 07/12/2008 07:29:19
dpopefiddle - Posted - 07/18/2008: 07:59:54
Tally to this point:
1.0 - 11
1.5 - 11
2.0 - 22
2.5 - 3
3.0 - 11
3.5 - 1
4.0 - 7
4.5 - 1
5.0 - 9
What a legacy we leave - a poisoned earth and a malignant mankind.
"Klaatu barada nikto"
Edited by - dpopefiddle on 07/18/2008 08:02:21
Ms. Jayne - Posted - 07/21/2008: 09:56:37
I'm a 1, but an aspiring 2 in the area of traditional/old time music. When I'm improvising, I will use a chart, but I'm just looking at chords then. I'm trying to teach myself contest fiddling by book/ear combination and am just gonna have to break down and have someone teach me a lot of those tunes, I think, so that I can capture it quicker!
I was not allowed to play by ear when I was young because I did it so well - needless to say I had a mostly classical background! I'm currently making myself learn by ear, but love learn a song off of a page, memorize it, and then add my own personality to the tune. I find that the written tunes are pretty static and without personality.
Ms. Jayne
Gladys - Posted - 07/23/2008: 10:44:06
I'm something like a 1.5.5
I read music, and I often find that I can learn the basic melody of a song more quickly if I look at the sheet music. But then, I don't need the music anymore. But, as long as the tune is simple, I can also learn by ear pretty quickly too.
MY problem is remembering the tunes after I learn them!
...........Rock On!
Louie - Posted - 07/25/2008: 12:56:19
I'm somewhere in there around 3. Started learning the voilin, "Suzuki method" four years ago. It's not about reading in the beginning. Never tried to learn a tune any other way. I can read fairly well, know the notes, but still need to hear the tune to get the rythym. It's great fun. Play mostly slow stuff that twangs the "ancient protein strings of my genetic code"(T. Leary)
janolov - Posted - 08/02/2008: 08:49:05
I'm something between 2 and 3. I can read but I usually don't read and play simultaneously.
Jan-Olov
FiddleFish - Posted - 08/03/2008: 09:28:30
I'm a 3 on the scale, but with a reverse twist. I jam with a group that that has numerous proficient sight readers so I often transcribe tunes I want to share with my jamming group. I sit down with my fiddle and slow down tunes and notate them into ABC. Its slow going, but I'm getting better at it. Listening to a tune repeatedly with high degree of attentiveness helps me to hear more of the subtleties that I don't usually hear with casual listening. I have little ability to play a piece I've never heard from a score alone but I can use the dots to fill in gaps.
I use BestPractice for speed/pitch/looping playback adjustments and find it to be an adequate, free tool for Windows.
Ottawa - Posted - 08/03/2008: 15:53:57
I' m a 4. Considering reading music for me would be like learning a new language, at this point in my life, just learning the fiddle, I intend to do it 'old-school' and learn my tunes by ear. I would consinder myself a '4' as I used to read a bit when I first was learning guitar years ago.
Steven
edkarch - Posted - 08/05/2008: 08:39:08
I am 5. Used to play drums notes are all on one line. start moving them up and down I go home. Fiddle by ear.
fairportfiddler - Posted - 08/07/2008: 05:43:09
I'd have to say I'm a 2. Since I am fairly new at playing the fiddle I use notation or tab when I'm first learning a tune. If there is no printed music I can figure it out by ear on the mandolin (which I've been playing for awhile) first and then try it out on the fiddle.
Wayne
dakotarh - Posted - 08/14/2008: 11:10:33
I am probably a 1. or 1.5
I am a good sight reader, as well being ear trained. I play the classical violin and old-time fiddle, and in the classical style, sight reading is pretty much a necessity to playing in the classical community. I find that when playing old-time it is easier to make the song sound like it is your own when you have learned it by ear. It seems like in my experience, when you learn a song from sheet music, you have more of a habit of only playing in note for note, and not adding any improvisation. Old-time songs just don't seem to sound right unless they have a little bit of unique flare that comes from the fiddler playing.
whigski - Posted - 08/15/2008: 14:44:55
I'm a 1, even though I'm a beginning fiddler. IMO, Being a musician without being able to read music seems rather analogous to going through life without being able to read or write. For me, sight-reading is an enjoyable challenge. It also gives one a visual way to plan the playing of a tune (cross-overs and bowing) and it provides a practical way to share it and document it.
Years ago, I used to buy thick books of country music and I'd try to play (on guitar) many songs that I didn't know. Much of the time a light bulb would come on, and I'd recognize a song. Either way, I'd often make a new friend (in a song). I suppose I am doing the same thing with fiddle tunes now, albeit at a slower rate, and at an even slower tempo!
Bill
Edited by - whigski on 08/15/2008 16:42:05
Skunkhound - Posted - 08/20/2008: 17:54:29
3 for now, still trying.
Dave
Say it might have been a fiddle, or it could have been the wind.............
AZfiddler_1996 - Posted - 08/23/2008: 11:55:57
"I read fluently but don't use it much or at all in my playing."
I guess that would come closest to my answer, but I have to say that hundreds of things that I have learned through learning to read music have been applied to my fiddling.
-----------------------------------------------
"Only those who have the patience to do the simple things perfectly ever aquire the skill to do the difficult things easily."
PeachyPicker08 - Posted - 08/24/2008: 18:31:19
I'm a 2. Use it for practice but not for picking with others. It's more acceptable in the circles I travel in to learn the tune in private by whatever means and then play by ear when you get together. Of course we share music sheets and tablature and I occasionally write the tabs for a piece of music someone wants to play that can't read music. A tedious process.
A Picker can''t always Teach but a Teacher can always Pick.
brya31 - Posted - 08/30/2008: 07:41:39
I guess I would have to say Im a 3 I can read it but not fluently I do use it to learn new tunes because my ear isnt good enough to catch on to what the notes of the various tunes are
Sue B. - Posted - 08/31/2008: 09:11:07
I'm a 5 and then some. I can read fluently in 5 clefs. (treble, alto, tenor, bass & moveable C (if you count that as different from alto & tenor.) I can listen to tunes and put them down quite accurately while listening. But I tend to see notation for what it was always meant to be: a fast way to save & replay lots of music, and not "the" overriding goal, as is sometimes the opinion of classical players/teachers. I make note that when I learn and memorize fiddle tunes from printed music, they get stored differently in my brain than if I learn them by ear first, even if then transcribe them. The latter sticks with me much better, I think. Sue B.
graham - Posted - 08/31/2008: 18:00:44
MIke,
I'd be a 1.5 if that's possible on your scale.
Given the 100+ responses, I'd like to see the summary results based on those respondents eg. average, frequency distribution, etc.
good luck,
graham
Vinny Ray - Posted - 09/15/2008: 08:57:32
During the long tedious trip to learning the fiddle we get frustrated and grap a hold on anything we can hoping it is our salvation to playing well.
Reading music is only one tiny tool that helps us get where we want to be. Like playing in tune, playing fast etc.
Its a small piece of the picture that helps but is not necessary.
Personally, I read well. I read all the time when learning new tunes.
But as soon as I learn the melody I take off and do my own thing.
I have found reading very useful. I make my living playing the fiddle however I have NEVER used sheet music to play a show. I play off the top of my head.
Reading music/theory also teaches you the language of music so that you can communicate with other musicians.
It would be hard to have a meaningful conversation with your friends if no one could speak english.
I play occasionally with a guitarist who plays guitar much better than I do. He doesnt know an "A" note from a "w" note.
Every time I try to show him something new I have to physically put his fingers on the proper frets because he has no idea what a diminished chord is. I could tell him the notes in a diminished chord but that wouldnt help him either,
That really slows down his learning process. However he is good at listening and playing along even if he has no idea what he is playing.
For people who are having problems reading music, try Mandolin Tabliture. Mandolins note the same as a fiddle and there is less of a learning curve when learning tabliture.
quote:
Originally posted by mike jarboe
Just curious...this is not a referendum on reading music, but rather a poll to see who does it.
Choose one answer:
1. I read fluently and frequently employ it in my playing
2. I read fluently but don't use it much or at all in my playing
3. I read a little and struggle to do a little of it in my playing
4. I read a little but don't use it much or at all.
5. I don't read at all
If anyone can think of another option, feel free to add it.
My answer: 5. I don't read at all.
bj - Posted - 09/15/2008: 13:58:27
quote:
1. I read fluently and frequently employ it in my playing
2. I read fluently but don't use it much or at all in my playing
3. I read a little and struggle to do a little of it in my playing
4. I read a little but don't use it much or at all.
5. I don't read at all
quote:
I'm a 5 and then some. I can read fluently in 5 clefs. (treble, alto, tenor, bass & moveable C (if you count that as different from alto & tenor.) I can listen to tunes and put them down quite accurately while listening. But I tend to see notation for what it was always meant to be: a fast way to save & replay lots of music, and not "the" overriding goal, as is sometimes the opinion of classical players/teachers. I make note that when I learn and memorize fiddle tunes from printed music, they get stored differently in my brain than if I learn them by ear first, even if then transcribe them. The latter sticks with me much better, I think. Sue B.
Vinny Ray - Posted - 09/15/2008: 14:24:00
I can relate to that.
I would have to play a tune a hundred times to learn it off sheet music.
Learning it by ear is so much faster.
I also play a lot worse when trying to read music.
Once I have it memorized then I can polish it up.
However I think once I learn it off sheet music it sticks with me a lot longer.
I remember tunes I have not played for 20 years that I learned out of melbay books and I can still remember them note for note.
quote:
Originally posted by Sue B.
I'm a 5 and then some. I can read fluently in 5 clefs. (treble, alto, tenor, bass & moveable C (if you count that as different from alto & tenor.) I can listen to tunes and put them down quite accurately while listening. But I tend to see notation for what it was always meant to be: a fast way to save & replay lots of music, and not "the" overriding goal, as is sometimes the opinion of classical players/teachers. I make note that when I learn and memorize fiddle tunes from printed music, they get stored differently in my brain than if I learn them by ear first, even if then transcribe them. The latter sticks with me much better, I think. Sue B.
bsed - Posted - 09/15/2008: 17:34:31
When I was still tetherd to the paper many years ago, I would learn tunes from a book, but then the versions I learned thusly were kind of frozen in time. I didn't have the ability to make it my own, much less play different variations each time through. For some mysterious reason, that is still true, even though I am a very good learner by ear. But if I was to learn a tune from notes, my version would be very stiff, not changing much each time through. Is this a problem for anybody else?
Just call me Dwight.
abinigia - Posted - 09/16/2008: 09:57:40
I guess I'm a 3. I taught myself to read a few years ago so I could learn Irish tunes on my own. But once I learn them I don't read to play them. Sometimes when practicing I'll open a tune book and read through some tunes randomly. I have trouble reading very busy looking notation, though, like lots of double stops, dotted notes, and trills. I read fairly slowly but play up to speed when I've learned something. I'm glad I've taken the time to do it but don't expect I'll ever be a good sight reader.
Brian Wood
http://users.wildblue.net/briankwood/
Nikolas - Posted - 09/20/2008: 10:56:04
I'm a 4, but I really want to learn to site read. There is so much amazing written music that you can learn from. Something that I think can help in anyone's playing.
My recordings for your ear bleeding enjoyment.
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/def...ontent=music
carlb - Posted - 09/21/2008: 06:06:34
#2. I use it especially for tunes where there is no recording. Some examples are (or were):
Jimmy in the Swamp and Old Melinda (before the records came out; 1sta volume of Christeson''s book)
A number of tunes in Bayard's "Hill Country Tunes"
Cheat River (in Bayard's "Dance to the Fiddle, March to the Fife")
Where the Chicken Got the Ax (Marion Thede's Book)
Carl
"Just around the corner is someone who plays better than you....." "There will always be someone who likes your music and someone who dislikes your music. Get over it......." [Dan Haerle, former music prof at University of North Texas]
Percy - Posted - 09/21/2008: 09:21:33
I'm a 4.5... I can do the "Every Good Boy Does Fine / F A C E" thing if I need to find out what a particular note is... but that's about it. I learn by ear... and I like it that way!
Carol (Percy)
Get busy living, or get busy dying.
Marc Metzger - Posted - 09/21/2008: 18:57:19
1...
I am working past that beginning non-existant-short-term-tune-memory problem that seems to bother classical trained musicians. It sure helps to be able to read the tunes that I went over in my group after a couple days have passed, though. Once I can get some repitition time in things will stick with me, but it is the first week or so that I really depend on paper.
The big bonus with reading for me is having access to all sorts of stuff that the people I play with don't know. I would hate the idea of being constrained to the tune selection that my friends know...especially as, currently, I don't have too many musical friends to play with..
[Violinist and future Stooge Larry Fine to Ted Healy, who said he''d pay $100 a week for his act, but to "forget the violin"]
"For $100, I''ll forget everything!"
Eric Sprado - Posted - 09/21/2008: 21:17:50
I read sometimes to learn a new fiddle tune,but a strange thing happens. If I learn a tune from sheet music I seem to have a harder time letting go of the tune and improvising than if I learned it by ear. Strange? Seems to imprint stronger or something....... Eric
curlyrayfan - Posted - 10/13/2008: 17:20:16
I'm a 2. I can read music ( nothing like a classical violinist can) but I dont always use it. Im trying to become more dependent on my ear.
ChickenMan - Posted - 10/14/2008: 15:52:04
I played flute from 5th grade through high school, and MOST of the time, I learned the music by ear with the sheet music being a reference. I guess I still do that.
I'm a 3 with the same feeling about my playing WHILE reading that fiddlepogo has. I use 'the notes' to work out a difficult passage if I don't have a recording to use. Sometimes just seeing it makes a difference for me, but mostly I'm an ear player.
______________________________________
"Fiddling makes you forget" - my wife
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