Special music reading glasses

BigDub

Does anyone have specialized glasses just for reading sheet music? I know it is so, but if you could comment on it and maybe give me some suggestions.....
I do have progressive lenses and my prescription is up to date, yet the only thing I seem to have issues with is reading sheet music. I have no trouble reading music from my iPad, and it’s not even the larger version.
On the paper stuff, I seem to mistakenly see the note on the next space up or down. If it’s really a c in the staff I think it might be a d. Like that.

Kehaulani

I measured the distance from eye to music stand, then had bifocals made. Bottom lens for reading music, top lens (distance) for seeing conductor, MD, crowd. Work with your optometrist.

BigDub

Sounds good

Dr GO

I have monovision contact lenses such that my left eye reads close, my right eye reads far, and playing with the stand tilted at a 45 degree angle, I can see both pages perfectly.... and it clears any resistance of the bell blowing into the stand. I see 20/20, and the audience hears 20/20 in this way!

Dale Proctor

Yes, I measured the normal playing distance from my eyes to the music stand and had a pair of single vision prescription glasses made to focus correctly at that distance, with a decent +- distance tolerance. They work great, and I keep them in the case with whichever horn I’m using at the time. Like you, I had progressive lenses that were pretty useless for reading music.

Newell Post

Go to Costco and ask about "office glasses." That's what has worked best for me. They are "blended bifocals" with an enlarged middle-distance region. I can see the conductor OK and also read the sheet music well. I also sometimes use them in the office when working on the computer. And, since it's Costco, they aren't too expensive.

fels

Also did the distance measurements. My music bifocals help immensely

adc

I did same as Dale. Prescription glasses focused at the right stand

J. Jericho

@bigdub said in Special music reading glasses:

On the paper stuff, I seem to mistakenly see the note on the next space up or down. If it’s really a c in the staff I think it might be a d. Like that.

Same here. I've been using reading glasses combined with my progressive bifocals, and they're adequate, although a little awkward. I have a prescription now for musician's glasses (single vision). Once I get them, I'll report on their effectiveness.

adc

You will love them. I do the same thing for shooting. Same reading spec (2.0) but they are not prescription.

J. Jericho

@adc Thanks for your encouraging words. I was hoping that I could use them for shooting, also. Tilting my head back to get a clear picture of the front sight is awkward and quite distracting.

tmd

Same here. I use progressive, and my vision stinks without glasses. Measured distance to stand, and had my ophthalmologist make a prescription for me. Opted for single vision instead of bifocals. They work great.

Mike

GeorgeB

@bigdub
Hi Wayne. I got unlocked by using Google today. I sure didn't get any help from the administrator, even though I got his e-mail address and sent him several notes. Oh, well...if I get locked out again I will say farewell to TB.

About glasses. Reading glasses and my regular glasses didn't work for reading music. I got a special pair of glasses for that .Measurements were taken of how far I sit from the music stand. I've been using them for 4 years now, though I had to change the lens last fall. These glasses work just fine.

BigDub

Thanks, George. You have my email so if you end up exiting, keep in touch, my friend..

adc

@j-jericho said in Special music reading glasses:

@adc Thanks for your encouraging words. I was hoping that I could use them for shooting, also. Tilting my head back to get a clear picture of the front sight is awkward and quite distracting.

I bought these shooting glasses at Amazon. They are +2.5 but can get other strengths. The reading glass covers almost the entire vision area.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B082B75FSZ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_image_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

tptguy

When I started my comeback, I had prescription glasses made just for music. The big drawback, is that i couldn't see the conductor very well, looking away from the stand gave me a headache. Stricly reading music ( practice at home) was great.
In the end, my regular precripton byfocals ended up working out best.

G.

Newell Post

@tptguy Here is how -- I think -- they make "office glasses." They are intended for working in an office where you spend a lot of time on the computer, but also need to read paperwork and look up to see things on the other side of the room. They have worked well for me in terms of being able to read sheet music and also see the conductor, etc.

Dale Proctor

The problem I had with progressive lenses was there is only a small sweet spot for things at arm’s length, and I had to look straight ahead through them to focus correctly. Three irritating features became quickly evident... No in-focus peripheral vision. No following the music on the pages with my eyes - I had to turn my head as I played. The trumpet or cornet bell was partially in my line of sight.

I had people suggest bifocals, but the single vision glasses work great and the conductor is just slightly out of focus, which doesn’t matter since I just watch him out of the corner of my eye while playing.

BigDub

@tptguy said in Special music reading glasses:

When I started my comeback, I had prescription glasses made just for music. The big drawback, is that i couldn't see the conductor very well, looking away from the stand gave me a headache. Stricly reading music ( practice at home) was great.
In the end, my regular precripton byfocals ended up working out best.

G.
Thanks. I think I will check into that. Lucky for me, I don’t really pay that much attention to the conductor....just kidding

GeorgeB

@bigdub
I don't have any trouble seeing the conductor. I can't see the hairs in his nose, but I see him well enough