Sight Reading How-to , Practice and Tips

[chopinlover23]

Sometimes when friends come over to my house they ask me to play something on the piano, usually I play what I know like Chopin Waltzes and etc., problem is they're a bit picky when it comes to Piano music, so they grab a book, turn it too a page at random and they expect me to sight-read it.. The problem when I try to sight read I mess up some notes and when a piece is in a fast tempo I play it like a turtle is much faster than me. Can anyone give me some How-to Instructions, Tips, and Practice Suggestions in sight reading, I think its a great way to put pieces on my repertoire.

THANKS!!

[omar_roy]

Sight-read more.

[quantum]

Insist on playing what you can play well.  Don't become a sight reading puppet.

It is likely that the people who are picking random pages from music can't tell if you are playing exactly on the page. 

Flip side: it is good sight reading practice.  Practice turning to random pages in your own time and sight read. 

[mike_lang]

Being in a sector myself that involves a fair amount of sight-reading and quick-learning (I'm working on a graduate degree in Collaborative Piano), I can tell you that one of the paradoxes of sight-reading is that, beyond losing the fear of playing something unknown, it has mostly to do with how much music you have learned (and learned well), and less to do with time spent sight-reading.  A large part of sight reading has to do with recognizing patterns, and so the more that you have in your ear/fingers, the easier it will be to play them at sight.  For that reason, we are continually improving in our reading abilities . . . On the other hand, it is a good idea to put yourself in these sorts of positions: playing for auditions, accompanying singers, reading chamber music with partners, etc.

Hope that helps,
Mike

[dora96]

I am in the same situation. I can play the piano well, but come to sight- reading like pieces have lots of chords, arpeggios, many flats and sharps and accidentals. For example, I try to sight read Bach Jesus joy of man's desiring.  I am going to pieces. It is my coordination with right hand and left hand. I just can't put them together without making mistakes, plus to play a piece with consistence without losing the overall structure. I am afraid I need to analysis and pencil making and practice over and over again.

One good thing is once I analysis and play the music with separate hand. It is just how quick to make that music  smoothly and accurately. However, the frustration is why can't I sight read quick and efficient for the first go.

I just wonder how the professionals do it, if they have to accompany instruments, singers. They must know and execute the music with consistence and accuracy. It is not feasible to practice day in and day out like me.   I find that even harder to accompany someone, not only I need to concentrate on my music and read the notes but also follow and listen and look where they are playing the soloist without making too many embarrassing mistakes. I hope more people will open this thread for more discussion. " Unlock the secrete of sight reading".