Sight Reading

[brendan765]

How long do you think it would take someone to be able to sight read anything and everything?

[timothy42b]

10% longer than it takes to learn to play anything and everything. 

[mhhudson15]

It depends on the person, like how much time he or she has for practice, and how quickly he or she learns. It also depends on their learning style and their background. For example:

I started piano when I was 8 and had a summer of lessons. I stopped playing for 5 years, and came back not remembering anything but a few memorized treble clef notes. I tried to teach myself, but I ended up playing at about level 6 or 7 by ear, and only being able to read at about level 3. This summer I finally got back into taking lessons. Since ear was all I really knew, and that's how I naturally learn anyway, it's taking me a long, LONG time to learn to read instead of just listening to a piece to play it. If I had a different background or a different learning style, it could change the way I learn to read music- for better or for worse- and it's like that for everyone.

[j_menz]

10% longer than it takes to learn to play anything and everything. 

I'd have thought more 15%.

[outin]

I'd have thought more 15%.

I'm fairly certain it's 16,75% 

[j_menz]

I'm fairly certain it's 16,75% 

Then you'd be wrong.

In any case, even if one could sightread anything and everything, where would one find the time?

[outin]

Then you'd be wrong.

In any case, even if one could sightread anything and everything, where would one find the time?

I'm never wrong.

I think we had another thread about living forever?

[j_menz]

I'm never wrong.

That's twice in one thread. 

I think we had another thread about living forever?

Forever isn't long enough if you're a good procrastinator.

[timothy42b]

I'm never wrong.

I think we had another thread about living forever?

Classic line from a recent movie:  "if by forever you mean the next 5 seconds, you're right."

[classicalnhiphop]

Let's see.  It varies from person to person.  I have always been one of the students who has been able to physically play pieces well, both technically and musically.  But one thing I could never do properly for the life of me is sight read.  I generally learn pieces slowly, but am getting better at it.  Some people are better at one aspect than the other, while others or amazing and can do both of these things very well.