Sight reading improvement via Messiaen...

[Ziggy]

I got a copy of the Vint Regards and will start spending 20 minutes or so at the top of every practice session just reading through it. Now, in sight reading, is it more important to have correct notes but slow tempo or to have a decent speed but lots of wrong notes?

[thierry13]

I would say slow tempo but good notes, phrasings and understanding of the modulations.

[steinwayguy]

Just DON'T STOP

[melia]

I would say choose a comfortable tempo where you can play accurately and musically  i.e proper phrasing, dynamics, pauses at cadence points, articulation etc...  I think most people would rather hear a piece played slowly with a few slips but musically, than one that is fast but sounds terribly  unmusical with many wrong notes!  The golden rule is if you make a wrong note, don't stop! I know this is easier said than done but try to anticipate what comes next ... and how it should sound. For example, is it a upward scale passage, should it have a slight crescendo etc... or a cadence point at the end of a phrase, maybe a pause would do well here - you get the idea.  I think an intuitive mind helps in this, but I think the key is practice. Just sight-read everyday and once you're good, it will be enjoyable.

[lostinidlewonder]

A general sight reading rule i have always stood by was to improve speed and accuracy seperately.

Speed: Take out easy music(for you) play it at tempo, dont stop if you do mistake(this can make what you play sound nothing like it should, but the idea is to understand the movement of your hand with regard to what you read, not so much the right notes, although right notes are your aim always), neglect rhythm etc (so you just play notes).
Accuracy: Take out harder music, play it super slow, dont make any mistakes, neglect rhythm etc.

[steinwayguy]

A general sight reading rule i have always stood by was to improve speed and accuracy seperately.

Speed: Take out easy music(for you) play it at tempo, dont stop if you do mistake(this can make what you play sound nothing like it should, but the idea is to understand the movement of your hand with regard to what you read, not so much the right notes, although right notes are your aim always), neglect rhythm etc (so you just play notes).
Accuracy: Take out harder music, play it super slow, dont make any mistakes, neglect rhythm etc.

That's an interesting theory. I'll have to try it out.

[will]

Ziggy: Can you easily tell when sight reading the Messiaen if what you are playing is correct? If not then perhaps you would be better served to improve sight reading through reading more tonal compositions...say some easy Mozart sonatas.