Howard Richman's Sight Reading Book

[b0mbtrack]

I've had Howard Richmand's book, Super Sight Reading Secrets, for some time now and am starting to get back into it.  I have a question that I am hoping someone who has gone through the book can help me with.

In VP Drill #2 (my edition is the 3rd just incase there is a difference) he is asking you to do a lot in one second's time.

                         1) Say note
                         2) Find the right key (with eyes)
                         3) Move hand quickly to play it (hand stays in lap between notes
                         4) Go to Next note.
The last sentance in the drill says to Progress numerically through the sight reading drills only when you can do each at the rate of one note per second.  Am I reading this wrong, is this possible or does he mean something else?

[allthumbs]

I don't have this book, but I would think that what he wants you to do as you described it is correct.

You may think that those 4 steps are a lot to do within 1 second, but steps 1 and 2 can be accomplished simultaneously (provided you can recognize the note quickly) as you initiate step 3.

What will take the most time is the time it takes to physically move your hand from your lap to the note and back again.

If you randomly strike notes in this fashion, you will see that you can still hit a number of notes within one second without any problem.

I hope this helps.

allthumbs

[quantum]

Allthumbs is correct - all of this can be done simultaneously. 

Say the note while you are moving your hand towards the keys and then play it.  If you read several notes ahead, you won't even have to think as much when the next note comes.  Use every available moment to read ahead and do as much preparation as possible.  For example while you are retracting your hand to your lap you could be reading several notes ahead of your current position. 

[b0mbtrack]

thanks, i guess i will have to give it a shot and see if i can speed up in time before i think it is impossible