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To: cornelis; don-o
(Big smile)

It IS reading music.

Shape Note music uses the same staff, scales, key signatures, notation, and other symbols as standard music, with the exception that the body of the note is not always an oval (round) shape. It could be (in Walker's 7-shape system) a tiny trapezoid, crescent, diamond, flag, oval, square, or a triangle.

Anyone who can read "regular" music can read shape notes, it's just that for a-Capella 4-part singing, it's faster and easier for children and other beginner or untrained singers to match the pitch to the shape. Once you get the "DO" you can get all the intervals right and sing every part on the page, no matter what the key signature.

18 posted on 03/12/2016 7:24:10 PM PST by Mrs. Don-o ("To see the Judge in glory crowned/ And see the flaming sky." - Idumea)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

So if you’re learning to play Bach’s first Praelidium, you can get that in shape note? Or is it no longer necessary at that point?


19 posted on 03/12/2016 7:29:44 PM PST by cornelis
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