Piano Forum

Topic: Sight reading questions  (Read 1323 times)

Offline ttpiano

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 7
Sight reading questions
on: August 02, 2014, 04:14:25 PM
I've been practicing sight reading on my own and had a couple questions.

1. Is it better to play slow and accurately, or should I attempt to play the sight reading pieces at a regular tempo even if I make a ton of mistakes?

2. How many times can I sight read the same piece? If I have a book that I go through in 3 days, is it okay to go back to the beginning of the book and re-read the pieces again, or should I move onto a completely different book of pieces?

Thank you for any advice!

Offline j_menz

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 10148
Re: Sight reading questions
Reply #1 on: August 02, 2014, 11:55:34 PM
1. Is it better to play slow and accurately, or should I attempt to play the sight reading pieces at a regular tempo even if I make a ton of mistakes?

Somewhat in between. You should be able to play it at a reasonable tempo and without too many mistakes (what that means varies with context and purpose). If you can't do that, change the piece (to a simpler one) rather than the approach.

2. How many times can I sight read the same piece? If I have a book that I go through in 3 days, is it okay to go back to the beginning of the book and re-read the pieces again, or should I move onto a completely different book of pieces?

Depends on your memory. If it's all still fairly "new", you're pretty much sight reading. If it feels familiar, you're not - you're just reading.

That said, reading (unmemorised) works is good sight reading practice, so do some of that as well as strict sight reading.
"What the world needs is more geniuses with humility. There are so few of us left" -- Oscar Levant

Offline ttpiano

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 7
Re: Sight reading questions
Reply #2 on: August 03, 2014, 01:25:18 AM
Thanks j_menz, that's very helpful.

Offline quantum

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 6249
Re: Sight reading questions
Reply #3 on: August 03, 2014, 02:06:04 AM
There are multiple elements to sight reading, and both approaches will help isolate the development of certain skills. 

I would also suggest sight reading with an ensemble partner.  This will develop your skill at prioritizing tasks.  Combinations like piano duets, piano + voice, piano + violin, etc.
Made a Liszt. Need new Handel's for Soler panel & Alkan foil. Will Faure Stein on the way to pick up Mendels' sohn. Josquin get Wolfgangs Schu with Clara. Gone Chopin, I'll be Bach

Offline brogers70

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 1741
Re: Sight reading questions
Reply #4 on: August 03, 2014, 02:20:53 PM
I think it depends on what is the limiting factor in your sight reading. For me, my problem was (is) that I have trouble knowing where the keys are without looking. My teacher suggested just reading fairly difficult things at tempo even if I only hit 5% of the notes. That, I think, is the right response for someone who knows where the keys are, and can read the notes quickly, but is inhibited by fear of not getting it perfect. That approach did not help me at all. Instead I read simple things really slowly without looking at my hands. In fact before that, I just went through all the scales with my eyes closed. That has helped my sight reading a lot. Eventually I'll get to the point where I'm limited by how well my eyes move between bass and treble staves, or by fear of error and I'll have to do something different, maybe even try to read Beethoven sonatas at tempo as my teacher suggest. But not yet.

Offline j_menz

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 10148
Re: Sight reading questions
Reply #5 on: August 04, 2014, 07:13:29 AM
Eventually I'll get to the point where I'm limited by how well my eyes move between bass and treble staves,

Haha, wait until your attempting three or four of them.   ;)
"What the world needs is more geniuses with humility. There are so few of us left" -- Oscar Levant
For more information about this topic, click search below!
 

Logo light pianostreet.com - the website for classical pianists, piano teachers, students and piano music enthusiasts.

Subscribe for unlimited access

Sign up

Follow us

Piano Street Digicert