need sight reading material

[Appenato]

i've dedicated the majority of this past summer to working up my sight reading skills. i'm an accompanist at the university and figured i'd really better get on top of sight reading, what with accompanying string players and horn players with the advanced repertoire the piano has. however, i have trouble sight reading accidentals. for the most part i'm okay reading through a new piece, but when accidentals blacken the entire page and it would've just been easier had it been written in a certain key... it's very unnerving to try to play for the other musician and i'm stumbling through saying, "keep going! i'll follow you/find where you are." argh. ... anyone have suggestions for common string and horn music (maybe advanced vocal pieces that has a real piano part to it) that i could look up to sight read?

[adagio1]

Hi Append...

I am a retired musician and teacher.   I did accomp work at University as well so I share some sympathy with you.  I also made extra money playing for a ballet school and was accomp for voice students when I could.   It is a thankless job in a way.   If you do not have ANY time to peruse the items you are being asked to play, it is tough.  Take a quick look at the key(s).  I know this sounds obvious but that is easy to forget when there are thousands of sharps and flats.  Try not to leave your partners while lost.  Bass is much more important for them....  your eyes have to read chordal about a bar ahead.   ( I realize much of this depends on individual style but I can only suggest what I have experienced)  The skill of reading notes is only part of it.   Reading slightly ahead is the other perhpas more important skill.   I always had diffuculty in open score condensing on the spot.   Esp if there was an alto and tenor clef..... tough for a mere pianist/organist.

I knew a prof who could read the stuff and was most impressed... although he never tried something he did not know.

Try taking 5 to 10% off the speed.     Few will mind this and it can heop a great deal.... by the way .... I have found that there are precious few musicians ANYWHERE who can sight read all styles.......   I do not know any and I have played as an accomp and organist for almost 50 years.     

Another interesting possiblity these days is to scan themusic into a notation program and have the program write out a fake sheet.   No, I do not use them but look and see what the result is..... if you can learn to see the music in a chordal style you can do a fair amount of cheating that goes (mostly) un noticed.........   Hope I helped..... I do remember some trying times but I now can do most reading quite fast.

Yours Garry Douglas
(Edmonton Canada)

[bernhard]

I am not familiar with the horn repertory, so I don’t think I can help you there. The only thing I can think of is Mario Bordogni’s “Melodious studies” originally for voice, but later transcribed (and much used) for trombone.

For voice I would suggest you try the several lieder by Schumann, Schubert and Beethoven (right there you have over 1000 pieces to practise with varying degrees of difficulty.) Of course most composers did write lieder, so google lieder and see what comes up.

For strings, there are the Mozart and Beethoven violin sonatas. And let us not forget the Bach Cello sonatas.

These suggestions are sort of advanced (some very advanced).

If you want something really elementary (to boost your self esteem), you can try the several pedagogical collections for beginners on the violin (e.g. “A tune a day”).

If you are interested in some piano-recorder  pieces, then there is a wealth of interesting repertory, most notably by Bach (his Baroque flute sonatas can all be played on the recorder), Handel (recorder sonatas), Teleman (recorder sonatas), Loeillet (48 recorder sonatas), Marcello, Dieupart (six sonatas), Finger, Bononcini (his Divertimenti da camera are superb), the list goes on and on. Most are published by Schott.

There are lots of collections of such music, some of the most interesting (covering mostly modern and contemporary pieces) being:

“Skally Skarecrows whistling book” by Geoffrey Poole
“Four diversions” and “Six Bagatelles” by John Turner
“Recital pieces” for piano and recorder – several composers (2 volumes)
“A book of song and dance” by Robin Walker
“Seascapes” by William Alwyn (for soprano voice, treble recorder and piano)
“Recipes” by Allan Bullard
“New World dances” by John Golland

All of those are published by Forsythe, and the piano part is not overly difficult (although being in modern idioms may be difficult to sight-read). They are all musically superb.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[Appenato]

damn. that's a lot. thanks Bernhard, very appreciative.

[thierry13]

Seriously, try Sorabji's music. Don't try to play it, but sight reading Opus Clavicembalisticum would definatly increase your sight reading skills.

[bernhard]

***. that's a lot. thanks Bernhard, very appreciative.

You are welcome