Reading With Ta'am - Add Taste to Your Reading!

I am going to show you how Taamim work so that you can add taste to your reading.

1. First you must become very familiar with the Taamim. Listen to the Baghdadi Taamim several times. Download the printable version in Adobe Acrobat format.
   
   
    
2. Now listen to the first two sentences of the Shema. Instead of reading the words of the Shema, I will read the names of the Taamim (press the green play button to listen):
    
   
    
    
3. Finally, listen to the same sentences as they should be read. Notice how the tune for each Ta'am is applied to the text:
    
   

It is important to note that this is not an exact science since the pattern of the text being read will not match the names of the Taamim. You need to improvise a little and in time, you will learn how to best fit the tune to the words.

Once you do, you will be able to pick up any text and read it with Ta'am!