Sheet music

Sheet music is musical notation written down on paper; it is the musical analog of a book.

Related Topics:
Musical notation - Paper - Music - Book

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With the exception of solo performances, where memorization is expected, classical musicians ordinarily have the sheet music at hand when performing. Even in jazz music, which is mostly improvised, there is a lot of sheet music describing arrangements, melodies, and chord changes.

Related Topics:
Jazz - Improvised - Arrangement - Melodies - Chord

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Sheet music is less important in other forms of music, however. In popular music, although sheet music is produced, it is nowadays more usual for people to learn the piece by ear (that is, by imitation). This is also the case in most forms of western folk music. Musics of other cultures, both folk and classical, are often transmitted orally, though some have sheet music, and a few use hand signals or some other device as a learning mnemonic.

Related Topics:
Popular music - Learn the piece by ear - Folk music

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The skill of sight reading is the ability of a musician to perform an unfamiliar work of music upon viewing the sheet music for it the first time. Sight reading ability is expected of professional musicians and serious amateurs who play classical music and related forms, especially for paid musicians.

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