Sight Reading

[steveb48]

Any ideas/tips on getting up to speed with sight reading for the grade 1 exam?  4 weeks to nail it!

[jbmorel78]

I'm sorry, but I'm afraid [sight] reading is not something that can be casually picked up in four weeks . . . It is a skill that is developed over time, practiced, and integrated in one's approach to studying music. 

The best advice I could give you, for the time frame in question, is to meet regularly with a partner, reading music for one or two pianos, four hands.

If you are interested in developing your reading capability, which you should be, make a point to be constantly playing new pieces . . . If you are playing a Clementi sonatina, try the others; if you are playing a Chopin nocturne, read the others from the same period (or not).  As frequently as possible, play with others - four-hands, duo sonatas, chamber music, songs, arias . . . Whatever you can get your hands on. 

Reading is not about the mere ability to read; it is about having access to the limitless repertoire of music out there, without being restricted to what has been recorded.  It is about fulfilling your curiosity, developing your musical intuition, exploring new universes - in fact, it is very similar to reading books.  The only difference is that audiobooks have not caught on in the same way that music recordings have, and so people still do know how to read text (although text messaging and television arguably are weakening this).

I encourage you to make [sight] reading part of your music study, and not simply an occasional piece of drudgery in preparation for an examination.

Best,
JBM

[nanabush]

Damn, my long post didn't register!  That's very annoying.

[firestrife2]

jbmorel78 is right...

I am like you I guess, I need a lot of help with sightreading. It is something I really need to practice and sometimes I wish I could just do it. I am a pianist; I play by ear. But we all know that playing by ear is great, but being able to read music on the spot is an essential skill needed for professionals, or for exams. I still don't understand how it is possible...being that I'm the type of person who likes to stare at his music for long periods of time and playing separate parts until I perfect it.

I wish you the best of luck in 4 weeks! All you can do now is practice.

[steveb48]

Thanks for all that, I've downloaded the nocturnes off facebook so will have a go at them Nanabush you long post did come through but in a different section. Off now to practice

[kris_k]

I suggest sight read other songs at the same grade with a slow tempo. That is actually what I do. Though you might not be impressed with the practice results, the real sight reading is way easier. Practice daily.

Cheers here



P.S. I am a 'monoreply' type. I will occasionally open threads twice.

[pianoladywong]

Sight-reading is an on-going learning process. If you start practicing sight-reading everyday, I’m sure you’ll see an improvement in 4 weeks. Remember that when you are practicing sight-reading, you should consider not perfecting the piece or practicing over and over again. Once you start trying to perfect a piece of music or playing it consecutively, you are no longer sight-reading it. Also, remember to look at the key, accidentals and look ahead when you read. I would suggest sight-reading a piece once regardless how well or badly you did, you should then move on to another piece and come back to it the next day.

Here are some tips:
Piano Sight Reading Tip #1- Eyes are always a step ahead of hands
When your hands are playing the first beat of a measure, the eyes are already glancing at the second beat of the same measure.

Piano Sight Reading Tip #2 - Keeping a steady tempo
It is important to keep counting a steady tempo even if you miss a few notes here and there. It you are not used to counting rhythm out loud, you can start practicing by clapping. Watch for the smallest values of the piece. If the piece has eighth notes, then count 1& 2 & etc. Keep the tempo really slow in the beginning.

Watch for keys - Always start a piece by knowing the key signatures. Check for the beginning and the last note/chord. They are usually the same chord. The chord of the last note will tell you what key it is. Once you know the key you can anticipate the black keys (sharps or flats of the key).
 
Interval Observation
- Once you master the first three steps, this last step is crucial for precise note playing. Remember there are five lines and four spaces in any sheet music. Notes are written within lines and  spaces.
Tips:
A. The distance between two notes are called interval. For example: C to D is a 2nd; C to E is a third; C to F is a fourth. 
B. When you have two notes that are on different lines, their interval are either 3rd, 5th, 7th, or 9th.
If the lines are next to each other, (from line 1 to line 2, from line 2 to line 3, etc), the interval is a third.
If the notes are skipping one lines (from line 1 to line 3, from line 2 to line 4, etc), the interval is a fifth.
C. When you have two notes that are on different spaces, their interval are also 3rd, 5th, 7th, etc.
This is because they are skipping a line note. If the space are next to each other (from space 1 to space 2, from space 2 to space 3), the interval is a 3rd. If the notes are skipping one space (from space 1 to space 3, from space 2 to space 4), the
interval is a fifth.
D. When you have two notes where one is a space note and the other one is a line note or vice versa, then the interval is 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th.
E. When you have two notes where one note is a space note (1st space) and the other note is a line note right above the space note (2nd line), then it is a 2nd.
When you have two notes where one note is a space note (1st space), and the other note is a line note (3rd line, skip the 2nd line), it is a 4th.
Keep eyes on the music. Use your peripheral vision to your fingers. Your fingers can learn to find their notes without your eyes. A good typist can type well without looking at the keyboard. A good pianist can read the music without looking at the piano keys.

5. If you combine the above steps and start paying attentions to interval of any sheet music you come across, I can almost guarantee your sight reading skills will improve within a short period of time.