site reading and dynamics

[tenderland]

Helo,

 Just a quick question, When  site reading or reading a piece for the first time should one focus on the dynamics and phrasing along with the notes or just the notes? I usualy do both and realy get caught up in trying to play everything perfect which grinds down the pace.


tenderland

[lalag]

I think it works better if you do not concern yourself too much with dynamics when sightreading, and can wait until you have it memorized or almost memorized before you try to perfect that side of it. At least that's what works better for me.

[keyboardclass]

I think you're right to include dynamics, that is after all how the music 'goes'.  Do it slower if you have to.

[birba]

Mozart said, sight-reading means playing at sight EVERYTHING - including dynamics and musical feeling (phrasing).   

[ask_why]

You shouldn't practice anything without the dynamics, they're just as much a part of the music as the notes themselves.  You'll also have a much more difficult time performing the piece properly if you practice without dynamics then try to add them later. 

[mcdiddy1]

The more experience you have in sight-reading, the more natural it is to include everything in your reading. I am a pretty strong sight-reader and I naturally play dynamics and phrasing because of experience tells me when to do some. When I sight-read I encompass everything I can observe about the piece, the title , dynamics, expressive markings, tempo, difficult measures. There is also a visualization and expectiation I see in the music of what it should sound like and what it should feel like. I think if your head voice of the music is strong and knowledge of music is deep certain things you can anticipate evern when your sight-reading