Monday, January 07, 2008

Music Reading Class


It's with a heavy heart that I write that I will not be able to take the music reading class like I had hoped. My boss will not approve it saying that it's too many days in the week to be away from work, and that it is not close enough to the lunch time hour to be able to let me take it as my lunch. The class meets on Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 9:50 a.m. My original plan was to use my lunch hour for the class and then eat a quick sandwich or something at my desk to make up for it.

Well, no matter. There is quite a bit of information on the Internet for learning to read music. Plus, I found a new copy of an older edition of the textbook that is being used for the class at www.half.com at about 1/5th the price that our campus bookstore was asking for it. So, I'm thinking that between that and online resources, maybe I can learn some music reading. It's not necessary to be able to read music to play the hammered dulcimer, but it's a tool to help. Anyway, this is how the chips have fallen, so I'll just find a different way to learn.

Just for fun, I looked up "reading music" on www.youtube.com and found this short video, which really says most of it in a nutshell.



Also, this is the hammered dulcimer that I'm saving my money to buy. It's a beautiful instrument. For a beginner like me, it's plenty good enough. If nothing else, I'll learn to play by ear and from memory. I can peck out a tune. My dad did it for years playing the banjo, guitar, and mandolin. He could also play a mean harmonica until his emphysema. Hopefully, he passed on some of his musical ability down to me.

2 comments:

http://afancifultwist.typepad.com said...

Awweeee, so sorry, that would have been a great plan. I don't think that was unreasonable... Phooey boss.. hee heeeeeee... I am sure you can learn some other way... I have a great book hidden somewhere... I should get you the title.. I have been playing muzic since I was 3, and it is mind blowing to think how lucky i was to learn then...... But, it is never too late!! You can!! ;)

Unknown said...

Vanessa, thank you so much for your very encouraging comment. I am not so sad now because I know there are other ways to learn. I did order the older edition of the textbook, so I'm expecting it within the next few days.