how to Read Flute Sheet Music
Discover ways to read sheet music within minutes
Finding out how to read music is a really critical skill to have. But it’s also a completely different skill from actually playing the flute. So why should we handle them as one and the same! As a part of our ‘Beginner’s Guide To Learning The Flute’, we hope to present you the tools and knowledge to read music much better.
Discover ways to read sheet music within minutes
Finding out how to read music is a really critical skill to have. But it’s also a completely different skill from actually playing the flute. So why should we handle them as one and the same! As a part of our ‘Beginner’s Guide To Learning The Flute’, we hope to present you the tools and knowledge to read music much better.
Should You Really Bother Learning How To Read Music?
Let’s be totally frank. Learning how to read music is actually a hard thing to do.
If you are wanting to play pop music, it’s not crucial that you discover how to read music. Having said that, if you do, you’ll find life a lot easier down the road.
It is possible to absolutely go down this path if you choose. Just understand that like riding a bicycle, reading music is really a skill you always remember – and the advantages massively outnumber the downsides.
What Is The Precise Method?
When you were learning to read and write, did your teacher treat them as the exact same task? In all probability not. Physically writing letters and learning to control a pen, is actually a different skill set than reading how individual letters join together to produce a word.
Reading music, and the whole process of learning to accomplish it is the same.
Playing the flute is actually a radically different skill from reading the sheet music in front of you. Quite a few badly skilled instructors try to teach both of these aspects together – but you know better! Master them as independent skills that overlap. That way you’ll be successful quicker.
Learn To Read Music Notation
The Treble Clef Staff
For flute, staff notation is structured around something called the treble staff. This is made up of a stave (the name for the lines) of five lines and four spaces. It is usually marked using a treble clef (the squiggly thing at the beginning of the line)!
Middle C sits in the space at the very bottom of the stave, on an imaginary line.
Notes can sit on a line or in a space. The vertical placement (height) of the note defines the pitch. The higher up the stave, the higher the pitch. If the note needs to go higher or lower than the stave lines, we add mini lines for each note that is higher or lower. These lines are called ledger lines.
The notes
So that we don’t have to count up from middle C to get our note, we can use a trick – and it’s as simple as remembering the word FACE…
The 5 lines of the treble staff are EGBDF. The acronyms that are popular are “Every Good Boy Does Fine” or “Every Girl Boss Does Fine.” We personally feel they are pretty terrible, and it’s far more enjoyable to make up your own!
Also to help give a good introduction to the total Treble Clef staff, here it is:
What Is The Note Length?
If we read through sheet music, we read the music notation from the left-hand side to the right. As we have already discovered which particular note to play, we now need to find out the length of time to play it for. Luckily, the printed note actually tells us this as well.
The design of the note shows you how long to play it.
- A whole note (or if you are in the UK, it’s called a Semibreve) is an empty circle and lasts four counts.
- A half note (or if you are in the UK, it’s called a Minim) adds a stem and lasts two counts.
- A quarter note (or if you are in the UK, it’s called a Crotchet) fills in the circle and lasts one count.
How To Read Flute Sheet Music - Summary
That’s it!
With this information and facts, if you study it for long enough and become accustomed to knowing which line and space equal which note, you’ll become fluent in reading music in no time.
Of course, there are lots of extra factors to eventually learn – for the time being, that should give you a great head start!
About the Author
Sonia Sielaff
Sonia Sielaff is Eflat/Sub Principal clarinetist of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, a position she’s held since 2017. She’s a faculty member of the Clarinet Maestro Festival and Play With a Pro. A versatile musician, Sonia has performed with the band Heart at Royal Albert Hall, and performed for royalty at Buckingham Palace.
Originally from Minnesota, Sonia holds degrees from University of Southern California, Glenn Gould School, Michigan State University, and Lawrence University. Apart from playing clarinet, Sonia loves baking, speaking Norwegian and nature walks with her dog Sophie.
www.soniasielaff.com
Other posts by this author
Originally from Minnesota, Sonia holds degrees from University of Southern California, Glenn Gould School, Michigan State University, and Lawrence University. Apart from playing clarinet, Sonia loves baking, speaking Norwegian and nature walks with her dog Sophie.
www.soniasielaff.com
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