The aim of this page is to draw attention to aid students in the basics of finding their way around scores - a skill which not only develops critical listening and analysis skills, but also encourages exploring more music. Listening to more music also makes a difference to the way one plays.

I am convinced that especially in an area such as listening, it really has to be the individual person who shows curiosity and initiative. Explore, listen to related and unrelated pieces, read books, memoirs, reviews. Think and analyse. What are the things that you agree or disagree with?

Also, following scores, or even better, reading through them at your instrument, if done attentively, will help you with your sight reading as well as identifying nuances in your own pieces.

The example exercises and notes above are not aimed for a particular level of instrumental playing, rather at people at a late beginner-intermediate level who are looking to increase their listening skills; some of the annotations cover extremely basic concepts while others might require some beginner students to do a little bit of research.

Hopefully you will enjoy listening and analysing more! Remember, most of your education comes from your own desire to explore new things.

In case you don't already know about it, IMSLP.org is the place to go to for an amazing online collection of scores.

P.S. All materials published on this page will be free, but please respect normal copyright laws and only use them with good intention for yourself, students and friends. Thank you! All scores on this page are in public domain, originally taken from imslp.org. Infographics were made with Piktochart.

uNDERSTANDING SCORES