The secret to sightreading...

[rimv2]

Do it

[netzow]

This should get stickied. 

[lilpianist]

This should get stickied. 

agreed.

[b0mbtrack]

plus get the book Super Sightreading Secrets, it helps a lot

[overscore]

I've been using the Paul Harris 'Improve Your Sightreading' series and I think they're brilliant. Very cleverly written, and very helpful. Best money I've spent in ages.

[rimv2]

plus get the book Super Sightreading Secrets, it helps a lot

I've been using the Paul Harris 'Improve Your Sightreading' series and I think they're brilliant. Very cleverly written, and very helpful. Best money I've spent in ages.

Doesnt matter. 

Juss do it

[rc]

That's the secret to everything!

[b0mbtrack]

i tried to just do it for a long time and wasn't improving.  maybe i was doing it wrong, but having the book guide me really helped.

[danny elfboy]

i tried to just do it for a long time and wasn't improving.  maybe i was doing it wrong, but having the book guide me really helped.

Just doing won't help it if you're doing it the wrong way
There are two steps in everything: finging the opimum conditions and working with those condition. Someone people innately find the optimum conditions and for them it's just a matter of "doing it"
Other people need to make a conscious effort to first internalize the "optimum conditions" and then to do the work while respencting them

It's not different then weight lifting and proper form
If you just do it but with unproper form you don't only don't train your muscle but you injury them. Someone people can innately follow proper form just by doing it others can't

When I said that it's important to focus on the mechanism of sighreading (eyes move from bass to treble and not from treble to bass) i was told this is not necessary because it just comes from doing it and improving. I don't agree ... for the "unproper form" crowd the correct way must first be internalized before doing the actual work

[rimv2]

Just doing won't help it if you're doing it the wrong way
There are two steps in everything: finging the opimum conditions and working with those condition. Someone people innately find the optimum conditions and for them it's just a matter of "doing it"
Other people need to make a conscious effort to first internalize the "optimum conditions" and then to do the work while respencting them

It's not different then weight lifting and proper form
If you just do it but with unproper form you don't only don't train your muscle but you injury them. Someone people can innately follow proper form just by doing it others can't

When I said that it's important to focus on the mechanism of sighreading (eyes move from bass to treble and not from treble to bass) i was told this is not necessary because it just comes from doing it and improving. I don't agree ... for the "unproper form" crowd the correct way must first be internalized before doing the actual work

Few things are innate. Some just figure it out sooner than others.

[pianistimo]

i think it starts with a good foundation when you begin piano lessons.  part of the lesson is learning where the notes are.  with both reading language and reading music - you have an interpretation of symbols going on.  if you try to learn too many too fast - you're always going to expect slowness.  but if you take five symbols a week and really learn them well - you know them.  you don't have to guess.

guessing isn't the game.  knowing is.

this is of course, my own opinion and approach - but i think with very young students - you can use the same 'look ahead' principles, too, as with reading.  using a index card to cover up tot he point you want the student to read.  for instance, if they play one chord (or even one note in rh and lh together ) then you hold the index card over all the other notes excepting the next chord that is coming.  when they can handle looking ahead one beat - then you add two beats.  you let them read it first (scanning is always a good idea).  then play without STOPPING.

stopping gives you a cue that you haven't read that far.  also, there is the element of coordination.  some students will always be a little less coordinated than others.  but, that doesn't mean that there isn't always room for improvement.

by college - one, imo, should be able to scan an entire page and then play.  (not from memory - but from 'reading' the text).  of course, when you are literally sightreading and playing - you may only read a line at a time.  but, your eyes get used to taking in more notes as you get older.

ps  i think that flashcards are invaluable to first and second year students.  for older students, sightreading a lot of different pieces that are a level or two below where they currently are.  and, joining a choir - and accompanying.  my sightreading took off when i was expected to play music from sight (accompaniments).

[rimv2]

i
by college - one, imo, should be able to scan an entire page and then play.  (not from memory - but from 'reading' the text).  of course, when you are literally sightreading and playing - you may only read a line at a time.  but, your eyes get used to taking in more notes as you get older.

Then ah is truly a disgrace