The Post Your Thoughts of the Moment Thread 2

[cashwarrior1]

I saw X-Men Apocalypse today! The popcorn movie was pretty good, it seemed kinda dumb in several sections, but the end was definitely the best part.

[E. Gadd Industries]

Well, my little sister is wanting me to teach her how to read sheet music. Should I? Or should I recommend a teacher?

[braix]

You don't need a professional teacher to learn to read sheet music. Just teach her yourself if you want

[mikey]

tell her you will in exchange for occasional favors, but nothing too bad

[SlowPokemon]

She'll learn much more effectively with a professional teacher.

[Maelstrom]

She'll learn much more effectively with a professional teacher.

This.
You don't want her to pick up bad habits and not notice them until they need to be unlearned, not to mention that they've had a lot more experience teaching beginners of all different learning styles.

[mikey]

but all she only asked to learn to read sheet music, so all he really needs to do is tell her about the 12 keys and then accidentals and he'll pretty much be done

[Nitro Indigo]

This guide is useful.

On an unrelated note, I just started playing Starfox Adventures today, and I read on TV Tropes that it's the first ESRB T Starfox game, yet it's rated 3+ by ELSPA...? (The age rating system in Europe before PEGI arrived.)

[braix]

but all she only asked to learn to read sheet music, so all he really needs to do is tell her about the 12 keys and then accidentals and he'll pretty much be done

^This

If she wants to learn how to play piano or something, get a teacher. If she just wants to read sheet music don't bother finding a teacher

[E. Gadd Industries]

Since I'm entirely self-taught (except for the extreme basics), I'll just teacher her sheet music, and if it starts shifting to piano, I'll recommend a teacher or something.

[Pianist Da Sootopolis]

If you're self taught, it's never a bad idea to go to a teacher, funds permitting.
When you self teach, you ingrain certain playing habits which are rarely beneficial. The teacher points these out, and also will have you ingrain good playing habits.
As far as learning to read is concerned, so long as you have a good idea of what you're doing she should be fine. Learning to read effectively, however (ie sightreading at a moderate tempo), will be another matter.

[Jamaha]

I should probably find a piano teacher again at some point.

[SlowPokemon]

but all she only asked to learn to read sheet music, so all he really needs to do is tell her about the 12 keys and then accidentals and he'll pretty much be done

^This

If she wants to learn how to play piano or something, get a teacher. If she just wants to read sheet music don't bother finding a teacher

Nah son at least a year or two with a professional teacher would be way more beneficial, trust me on this one. You cant get an effective understanding of music without a teacher. Even if you can play what's in front of you after a while, your technique and understanding beyond the notes will be lacking. To reiterate, the notes are not the most important part of reading music. Wrong notes do not matter so much if you have a good grasp of the rhythms, dynamics, expressions, and articulations, something I feel is impossible to really get without a professional teacher and though I thought I understood all of those concepts, I didn't REALLY get them until I came to college and worked with a professional. But that's just my two cents.

[Pianist Da Sootopolis]

Nah son at least a year or two with a professional teacher would be way more beneficial, trust me on this one. You cant get an effective understanding of music without a teacher. Even if you can play what's in front of you after a while, your technique and understanding beyond the notes will be lacking. To reiterate, the notes are not the most important part of reading music. Wrong notes do not matter so much if you have a good grasp of the rhythms, dynamics, expressions, and articulations, something I feel is impossible to really get without a professional teacher and though I thought I understood all of those concepts, I didn't REALLY get them until I came to college and worked with a professional. But that's just my two cents.

While I agree with you wholeheartedly on the substance, I don't think his sister was trying to become a musician, so much as just get a very basic feel of the keyboard and how to play. If she goes any further, I'm 100% with you though.

[Bespinben]

*raises hand to the contrary*
*raises Maestros hand as well*

Granted, neither of us self-identify as pianists (or instrumentalists of any sort), cementing my belief that the ability to perform is not requisite for mastering other facets of music. Ironically, most composition and performance majors I know don't know how to engrave sheet music to the standard I expect of my own engravings (despite my being entirely self-taught in the practice).