Not sightreading, but just looking at the sheetmusic..

[infectedmushroom]

Well, I don't know what I had today. But since I can't read notes, I can't sighread. But today I started to play some songs, with the sheet music in front of me, and just followed all passages with my eyes. I was just looking at the notes and the funny thing is, I was playing songs where I normally have some trouble with, easilly.

Is there an explanation for this? Maybe looking at the notes reminds me what I have to play or something, I don't know. I never learned notes, but I'm gonna start learning to read notes pretty soon I guess.

When I played while watching at the sheet music I noticed that my brains were really relaxing. Of course, if you play a piece that you've memorized, it'll always makes your brains work a lot more. I always played like that and never experienced the opposite. So today was kinda special, since my brains were kinda relaxing and I was playing the piece without trouble.

Of course,  I already knew the pieces I played with the sheet music in front of me, cause if you can't read notes it's kinda impossible to read sheet music you don't know. 

[Ruro]

Hi InfectedMushroom, I think I know exactly what ya mean...

One piece that especially gets me is Chopin Op.28 No.4, the chords on the left hand O_o I can't always remember which come's next or for how many I am required to play, unless I think immensley about it - which can ultimately wreck the feeling you wish to express (which seems quite important in this piece).

On the other hand, with the score in front of me, and even being a poor sightreader, you can easily tell which note is being Sharpened. It quickly kicks in the memory of the memorized chords, your hands are away, and musicality is in the spot light!

I play it perfectly note wise with the score, without it... let's say I wouldn't dare recording it!

Perhaps this is what you are reffering too?

Now that I think about it, it is somewhat more pleasing then barging my brain into a fast paced peace

[infectedmushroom]

Funny that you start talking about Chopin Op.28 No.4. It was the first piece I tried to play with the sheet music in front of me and looking at it. I already could play this piece from memory, but it's a lot easier with the sheet music in front of me.

That's where it all started, now I'm trying more difficult songs.

Anyway thanks for your reply.

[jasons]

I'm exactly the same with this prelude. With most pieces I play better without the music once I've learnt it. This one, however, I'm never managed to properly commit to memory - I think it's because of the left hand progression is so subtle.

I do tend to stop 'sightreading' it around bar 15 though - I need to look at my hands for the big jumps

Jason