I Can Read Music: A Note Reading Book for Violin Students (Volume 1) [Spiral-bound]

Joanne Martin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1995 | ISBN-10: 0874874394 | ISBN-13: 978-0874874396

These easy-to-read, progressive exercises by Joanne Martin develop a student's reading skills one stage at a time, with many repetitions at each stage. I Can Read Music is designed as a first note-reading book for students of string instruments who have learned to play using an aural approach such as the Suzuki Method(R), or for traditionally taught students who need extra note reading practice. Its presentation of new ideas is clear enough that it can be used daily at home by quite young children and their parents, with the teacher checking progress every week or two.

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 108 pages
• Publisher: Summy-Birchard Inc./Warner Bros. Publications Inc. (February 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0874874394
• ISBN-13: 978-0874874396
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 10.7 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,475 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #6 in Books > Arts & Photography > Music > Theory, Composition & Performance > Sheet Music & Scores > Instrumentation > Violin
  • #89 in Books > Arts & Photography > Music > Instruments & Performers

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for Suzuki Violinists, February 7, 2008

By 

Kendall (Tacoma, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Can Read Music: A Note Reading Book for Violin Students (Volume 1) (Spiral-bound)

This book is perfectly designed for the Suzuki lesson structure. If there is an able teacher and parent present to introduce and teach each lesson, the book is very successful. My students are exposed to the basic concepts of music theory in a theory class following their weekly group classes - so there is no need to explain basic concepts like the "treble clef" or "staff." There are plenty of introductory reading books out there for the older beginner, but this book has a gradual yet not monotonous pace, catering to an early beginner who has a support structure (parent/teacher).

I use this book for all of my students in a studio of 40+ Suzuki Violinists!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not for someone who cannot read notes to begin with..., December 15, 2011

By 

Ms.Yeager - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: I Can Read Music: A Note Reading Book for Violin Students (Volume 1) (Spiral-bound)

I was very disappointed that it didn't offer a more in depth explanation and/or instruction. I am a parent without any experience in music helping my daughter to learn, and was very disappointed that it didn't offer any explanations of the lessons being taught. For the absolute beginner: Don't buy this as it is basically just a book with sheet music. I guess if you already know how to read sheet music you can make use of it, but for those who don't-it's practically useless. Perhaps I just misread the purpose of the book before buying it, but it will be a while before it is of any use to my daughter.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for Beginner, at any age, especially with Suzuki Books, October 27, 2011

By 

vancalicocat (in the middle of mid west) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Can Read Music: A Note Reading Book for Violin Students (Volume 1) (Spiral-bound)

Both of my children started with this work book to develop their note reading skills. They were both about 5 years old when they began their note reading practice. My daughter progressed very quickly. I think the fact that she was already reading chapter books on her own may have helped; where my son who was not reading on his own struggled around the middle of Vol.1. So, we switched to flash cards and the other note reading book, "I Know A Fox With A Dirty Socks" which is more melodic. I made an enlarged copies of music from the book to make the reading easier. (in about the same size of the flash cards') Singing the words that comes with the melody also was helpful. I think it is a good gauge to use your children's reading skills to see if they are ready for a work book like this. Another words, children could start using this work book with the same pace that they read their native language. When we practice the "I Can Read Music" at home, we will first say the note names, clap the note values, then play on the violin. I never had to help them with the finger placement on the finger board (because Suzuki Students usually have excellent hearing skills), but the note value that each holds. So, clapping together was a must. Both Vol. 1 and 2 has plenty of repetitions (in note reading concepts) and works well with Suzuki Book 1, 2 and/or 3. Each page comes with 4 lines, and easy to practice a little at a time. I highly recommend this series, since it is easy to incorporate however you would like it to work at any age. The series also was very helpful with my note reading skills (I gained the speed of note-reading. Suzuki Children have excellent listening skills, especially if they started their lessons at early age. This work book can help them to connect their audio skill to notes that they see on the music sheets which is important, especially, if they rely on their ears more than reading the notes.