Want to finally learn how to read sheet music without quitting?

You pick up an instrument, start learning songs by ear, and everything feels great. But then someone drops the word sheet music in conversation, and suddenly you’re staring at a page of hieroglyphs.

The Problem

Over 50% of students quit learning their musical instrument within the first two years of playing. And the difficulty of sheet music is a huge part of the reason.

The Good News…

Reading sheet music doesn’t have to be your musical kryptonite. In fact, it can be a powerful tool for musical success if you use the right motivation techniques.

In this article, you’ll learn:

• Why most musicians fail at sheet music reading
• The psychology of musical motivation
• 5 proven motivation techniques to make learning easier
• How to build habits that will keep you going even when it gets difficult

Why Most Musicians Fail At Sheet Music

Let’s just get one thing out in the open…

Sheet music reading is HARD.

Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying to make themselves feel better about all the years they struggled with it.

Why it’s so difficult:

Your brain is processing all these different types of information simultaneously. Notes, rhythms, key signatures, tempo markings, articulations…it’s all on one page, and your brain has to work out what it all means at the same time.

If that’s not enough, many traditional music education methods approach this process completely backwards. They throw students into the deep end with complex notation long before they have an intuitive sense of what music should sound like.

The silver lining? Once you understand WHY it’s so difficult, the reading part starts to get a lot easier.

The Psychology Behind Musical Motivation

What’s the difference between successful musicians and the ones who quit?

It’s not talent. It’s not having a nice expensive instrument. It’s motivation.

Motivation is THE single biggest predictor of musical success. Students who stay highly motivated through the difficult early stages of learning go on to become accomplished musicians. That’s according to decades of research on music education.

The thing is, most people have the wrong idea about motivation. They think it’s this magical thing you either have or you don’t.

“Some people are just born with it.” “Motivation is something you either have or don’t have.” “Oh, I have no motivation to do that.”

Complete and utter nonsense.

Motivation is a skill. It’s something you can learn and practice and get better at. Just like learning how to read sheet music.

Take the time to really understand your “why”, and the rest becomes a lot easier.

5 Proven Motivation Techniques To Make Learning Easier

Ready to build a new relationship with sheet music? Here are 5 motivation techniques that work because they’re based on psychology (and not just wishful thinking).

Start With Music You Actually Want To Play

This one might seem obvious, but it’s amazing how many people get it wrong.

Don’t start with Mary Had A Little Lamb unless that’s genuinely one of your favorite songs.

Start with simple versions of songs you already love.

Look for simplified arrangements of everything from Taylor Swift to Beethoven. Find versions that are written for your level, and work your way up from there.

Why it works: Your brain releases dopamine when you anticipate something you enjoy. If you’re excited about the end result, your motivation is going to stay high even through the tough parts of the process.

Use the “2-Minute Rule”

I’m not kidding when I say this technique will change everything…

Commit to practicing music reading for just 2 minutes every day. Nothing more.

Doesn’t sound like much, does it? That’s the point.

The goal isn’t to learn how to read in 2 minutes (though you can if you want to). The goal is to build the habit. Once you’re consistently practicing for 2 minutes a day, increasing that to 5 minutes feels like no big deal. Then 10 minutes. Then 20.

The key is that most people fail because they try to do too much too soon. They say they’re going to practice for an hour every day, then they burn out after a week, and quit.

Small, consistent actions beat inconsistent huge efforts every time.

Track Your Progress Visually

Musical instrument majors score the highest reading scores out of all university majors. Even higher than English majors. They know the power of systematic skill building.

Create a visual progress tracker. Check off each day that you practice. Note which pieces you’re able to read fluently. Record yourself playing and compare recordings from different weeks.

Simple psychology: Visual progress builds momentum. When you can see how far you’ve come, it’s easier to keep going.

Find Your Learning Style

Different people learn in different ways. Some are visual learners who need to see patterns. Others are auditory learners who need to hear the sound while reading.

Try these approaches:

• Visual learners: Use colored pencils to highlight different elements
• Auditory learners: Use apps that play notes as you identify them
• Kinesthetic learners: Practice air-conducting while reading rhythms

Whichever approach feels easiest and most natural is likely the right one for you. Don’t force yourself to use methods that don’t match how your brain processes information.

Build A Support System

This is probably the single most underrated motivation technique…

Find other people who are learning to read music. Join online forums, find practice buddies, or start a beginners’ group.

Why it works so well? Accountability and encouragement. When you’re struggling, someone else can help remind you why you’re doing this. When you have a breakthrough, someone to celebrate with.

Plus, the act of teaching others what you’ve learned will help you understand it better. Win-win.

Photo by Kacper Cybinski on Unsplash

How To Build Unshakeable Reading Habits

Motivation is important, but habits are where it’s at.

Motivation gets you started. Habits keep you going when motivation wanes.

Here’s how to build habits that will stick:

Pick a time of day and connect your practice to an existing habit. If you always have coffee in the morning, then practice right after your first sip. The term for this is “habit stacking,” and it’s one of the most effective ways to build new habits.

Keep your music and instrument in a visible place. If you have to dig through closets to find your sheet music and instrument, you’re not going to practice. Make it as easy as possible to just get started.

Celebrate small wins. Finished a simple song? Victory dance. Figured out a rhythm? Text a friend about it.

Your brain learns to associate sheet music practice with positive feelings, making it easier to keep going long-term.

Pulling It All Together

Reading sheet music is one of the most difficult but also one of the most rewarding skills you can learn as a musician.

It will open up a world of music that you can play. Help you communicate and collaborate with other musicians. Give you a deep understanding of how music is built.

The key to success? Not talent or perfect pitch. The right motivation techniques and consistent practice.

Key Strategies:

• Start with music you love
• Use the 2-minute rule to build habits
• Track your progress visually
• Find your learning style
• Build a support system

With 54% of American households having at least one musical instrument player, you’re not alone in this. Don’t let sheet music intimidation steal musical joy from you. Take it one note at a time, stay consistent, and trust the process.

John Mali Director of Media Relations

Director of Media Relations at AboutBoulder.com

[email protected]