How do I improve my reading skills in playing the piano?

[ibanny1000]

Hi guys!


I just want to ask you guys, what is the easiest way to improve my reading skills?
Please post comment. 


                                                                      Thank you!!
                   

[go12_3]

From your post, you didn't indicate what level of pieces you know. So what you can do to find more posts about improving reading skills, just click on *Search* tab , to the left of  your profile tab, and a space will  appear for you to type in whatever you need help in.  Type in the blank space,*sightreading* and enter, then a bunch of posts will appear for you to browse through.  You can type in *technique* and whatever you like.  I suggest that you select a piece that isn't too difficult and read, just under your level,  for 15 minutes a day. 

best wishes,

go12_3

[jflowers]

For me, the best way to improve my sight reading is to pick up a piece that is a little beyond my comfort level. This is beneficial for it keeps you on your toes but it doesn't make you fustrated with your practice. Practice, practice, practice. Doing it daily for 15-30 minutes will also keep your mind in good condition so sight reading eventually becomes just reading

[dr. j]

I learned to sight read by accompanying for a choir.  The director expected the accompanist to be able to play any music he put in front of the choir - playing single or multiple parts and then the accompaniment.  This particular director - and many I have since played for - was not organized so never got the music to me in advance.  Hence, when put on the spot on learns quickly the skills of sight reading.

Dr. J - The More You Play the Better Your Day

[ibanny1000]

Hey guys thank you so much, your advice really did come in handy....

[ahvat]

Practicing a piece you don't know actually helps, I suck at sight reading and practice it for quite sometime and it really helps me get through a piece.

[jgallag]

You learn to read, by, well, reading. There aren't really any shortcuts. However, you should learn to recognize very common patterns, chords, scales, and arpeggios so that they're at your disposal when you need them. Make sure when reading that the melody stays intact, and then the bass (unless you're accompanying, in which case the left hand should be kept intact above all). If you're playing something extremely slow, you might take a pencil and go through the piece marking each beat, since the notation can get tricky. Leave out all grace notes, trill, ornamentation of any kind. And, obviously, improving your general technique will give you more tools for when you read. Look for repetition, a formal outline, and the roadmap. Make sure you know the time signature and the key signature, and make sure there's no funky stuff going on with the clefs. The best way to help your reading is to take a few seconds and look the piece over before touching the piano, so you can see any obstacles or little things you might miss on the fly.