Special music reading glasses

BigDub

I don’t have any trouble with seeing the conductor. It’s more of a problem that I have to look.

tptguy

I didn't mention that I have been wearing glasses for 59years, bifocals for 40. Transition back to single simple lens is difficult at best. My new glasses have a larger sweet spot, that allows me to sit at a comfy distance to play...I like between 40-45" when i can get it in a rehearsal setting, I havn't been able to real life test these new specks yet, but I can't wait!

J. Jericho

Overdue update: I ordered, received, and have been using progressive bifocals with an improved field of vision. I have not yet ordered the single vision glasses, because I now have no difficulty seeing the music on the stand, and vision beyond seems normal.

barliman2001

Specialised opticians who themselves are musicians: allegro optical in the UK www.allegrooptical.co.uk The Chief Boss is a conductor and trombonist with a history in the Royal Trumpets, the Real Boss (his wife) is a brass band cornetist and pianist, and only recently got the UK Optician of the Year award, and all their employees are musicians. I got specialized music glasses from them which are seven-fold multifocals - great not only for music, but for everything else.

jimc

I had single-vision glasses made up for my normal prescription, but at typical music-stand distance. That way I can read any/all music at any angle or position from which I can see it. The variable focus of my regular glasses, otherwise quite satisfactory, does NOT work for me in this context, as I don't seem to use a constant location for whatever I'm playing. Trying to aim the correct porthole at the spot I'm playing from, while keeping the embouchure in position while not hitting the stand, etc., is virtually impossible for me. Single-vision is a lot cheaper anyway, so I had two sets made up. (I use one on the computer, and keep one in my trumpet case.)

For the conductor, peripheral vision seems to work well enough. Sure, he's a bit fuzzy, but I can see hands and baton just fine, which is all I need. I rarely am actually focused on him anyway. Even without glasses at all I can see what I need from him, so even partial correction is gravy.

barliman2001

I can only reiterate that purpose-made multifocals are a blessing, especially if you are playing in different settings and different-size orchestras. IMHO, single-strength reading glasses are ok if you are always in the same group, with a fixed distance between you and your music, the conductor not too distant and some rhythm section giving you a beat to follow... but in a large symphony orchestra, with the conductor miles away and some music without stirring beat, things can become complicated... I am currently practising for my April programme with the Filarmonici di Cefalu in Sicily... at least 95 of an orchestra, and the starting piece, Wood Notes by William Grant Still, is a flirring piece of ethereal music, parts of it sounding like a 3/4 measure but written as a 4/4... that's when you really need to look closely at the conductor.

(BTW, a few string seats in the orchestra are still open, so if you know someone, please ask them to look at www.dacapo-travel.eu)

Marc D. Jr.

@BigDub Hey, I’m having the same problem! Thanks for sharing. I found some useful suggestions here.

barliman2001

@barliman2001
And that is how the orchestra looked like, in the Teatro Civico Salvatore Cicero in Cefalu... (here with Brahms' Double Concerto)

administrator

It looks like a good time.

BigDub

@barliman2001 said in Special music reading glasses:

@barliman2001
And that is how the orchestra looked like, in the Teatro Civico Salvatore Cicero in Cefalu... (here with Brahms' Double Concerto)

With the use of your music glasses? I see. Hmmm