Odd Time Reading Text. I have been thinking about adding some reading to my daily drum routine. So Im diving into the world of odd time signatures with ‘Odd Time Reading Text‘ by Louis Bellson and Gil Breines. I went through this book (among others) when I studied with Murray Spivack. This book is very good for multiple reasons.
Odd Meters
Number one it is odd meters so while you are learning how to read you are also learning odd meters simultaneously.
Drum book notation is different from real-world notation
In addition, the book is not noted like a drum book. If you studied music from most drum books you are not reading the same style of notation as you will encounter on a music job. Let me explain, most drum books are written without much thought to duration. ‘Odd Time Reading Text’ is different in that the nation has a lot of ties and combinations of ties and dots. If you as a drummer end up playing in a traditional ensemble such as an Orchestra or a small ensemble the music you will read will not look like drum music. In fact, it may be a trumpet part or some other instrument. This book, gives the drummer a real world reading experience.
This book will help your sight-reading
Lastly, your sight reading skills will increase with this book. For example, most of the book plays on sightreading weakness. In other words, this book is always making sure you are paying attention to every note and rest. Therefore sight reading will be greatly improved.
I used this book when I studied with Murray Spivack. If you would like to try it for yourself click here on my Amazon link and you will be helping my page out since I get a portion of each sale.