UK Piano Page Piano Forum

If you or your students have trouble sight-reading music, especially chromatic or modern music, check out Simplified Music Notation - http://www.SimplifiedMusicNotation.org

It still uses the traditional 5-line staff notation, but sharps and flats are given by the shape of the notehead. The key signature is still there, but you don't need to remember it, or accidentals whilst playing. It's similiar enough to ordinary notation that you can pick it up in a few minutes to learn and it's easy to switch between the two.

I'm a grade 8 + amateur piano player, but I've always been a very poor sight-reader and I found the notation really helpful. I get very frustrated with unfamiliar pieces because I keep forgetting the key signature and hitting wrong notes. But I can sit and sight-read pieces in Simplified Music Notation for hours on end without making any mistakes, which makes it a lot more fun, obviously.

I work with the inventor, Peter George (an adult learner who was frustrated by the difficulties of reading traditional notation), and we would be very interested to hear any feedback you have on the project.

You can get instructions and scores from the website.

http://www.SimplifiedMusicNotation.org

Ginevra

I personally don't find it easier, and when reading in a hurry, when you tend to read the note heads, its a hinderance. For me anyway!

I tend to think of what key I'm playing in as I read and then the accidentals tend to fall into place. I rarely sight read ultra contemporary music.

That said, its an interesting system and it may catch on, because it DOES tidy up the page a lot! Perhaps if I stick at it....

It looks interesting and I have to say but as I sight read, I don't tend to give the note head an awful lot of attention, tending to look at intervals and the shape of the music instead - that is when dealing with previously unseen music!

Having said that, I could see how this would help dyslexic players or those with learning difficulties that struggle to concentrate while retaining information provided by the key signature. I think for these people, this style of music reading is most suited but not sure how I would respond to a new form of notation as a universal format for all players.

I think it's more useful to be able to read and think in terms of keys.
Best, Elaine