I wanted to encourage those of you who are trying to self learn or maybe have a teacher but that teacher isnt teaching you to read
or you have a teacher and he is teaching you to read but you are finding your progressing slowly.
first thins I want to say stick with it
the rewards are worth the effort.'
of course you may not be where you want to be right now
but you will get better and when you do the music you will be able to play will make you glad you put in the effort.
I just finished my first clementi piece which is really just an exercise but
I find that I am able to read everything a little easier now.
and when it comes to learning new unique material not the stuff you hear on the radio or from the typical choir
but resources from GiA or some of the stuff they have on those little printed books specifically for SATB
choirs
you find that you will be able to play some of that music and you will be glad you put in the effort
a couple of words of advice
read as slowly as your most difficult passage
in other words when you find that at some point in the piece you have to slow up to execute a passage
then you need to slow the whole piece down to the pace you can play the difficult passage.
another point
try never never never ever ever never never to play a wrong note
even if you have to move at a snail's pace don't play those wrong notes and if you do then play that measure over a few times
do have some very easy music that you can learn in one sitting maybe 10-20 minutes even 5
this is so you really know your level and you are working on your performance skills
also have a piece of music that may take a week or two to learn
this is so that you can have recital type pieces for you to perform at special events or as preludes in your church service
then have more difficult pieces that may take a month or two to get through
the difficulty of these pieces challenge your musicianship and will build your level
all the while you are reading
and you will have time to devote to your ear training
and whatever else you practice.
choose and select your material carefully
I also recommend that you follow a method course at least up to the third grade level so that you can get the good habits
Alfred and Thompson are my recommendations
