I've been playing (on and off) for 30 years and still have trouble reading notes. Naturally I can spot the common chords and play them as a whole. But I still have a little trouble sight-reading because I have to stop and think out the notes in chords that aren't that common.

I've heard of people who play using intervals. They don't think out the names of the notes, but are very well acquainted with intervals and play that way.

Is this method a good one and could it help a person who STILL has to figure out notes, especially in the left hand?? And how, exactly, does it work?

Thank you for your help,
Kathleen

Kathleen - how do you read a book or newspaper? Do you read individual letters then sound out the word, or do you recognize words and syllables and put them together? The latter is the basis for intervalaic reading.

First, you should be able to identify all the notes on the grand staff, and really leger line notes below, between and above the staff, for at least an octave. This is like learning the alphabet.

At the same time, you need to recognize intervals instantly. You don't have to think out words such as: the, and, to, of, so, if, etc. Nor should you have to sound out intervals of 3rds to octaves.

As I frequently point out to my students, if I handed you a book in French or German, you might be able to slowly sound out a word at a time, but you'd have a dickens of a time becoming fluent at reading it. Why? Because it has no meaning to you. I mention this because if you like classical music, playing in the jazz, pop, or church genre is going to be problematic for similar reasons as reading words in a foreign language.

So, my suggestion to you is to start reading very simple music in the genre you like or want to become proficient in.

Let's say you like classical, and can play several of the Mozart sonatas. Grab a graded series like Piano Repertoire (Kjos), Celebration(Harris), or another, and start with the primer level and play through every volume until you are proficient. Then go on to the next level. Remember, there are usually 3 or 4 volumes per level. Don't let your ego get in your way. Practice each piece in each volume until they are nearly memorized.

I hope this helps. Alternatively, you could look for a local teacher who teaches intervalaic reading and let her/him guide you through progressive studies.