Sight Reading Exercise Book

[bnatural]

My teacher suggests that, as an everyday routine, I should do some sight reading exercise for about 5 to 10 minutes.  Anyone can suggest a series to go by?  e.g. Alfred, Peter's Edition, or else.......

[bernhard]

There are several. 

The best, in my opinion are those ordered by difficulty, so as you go through the book, the next piece is slightly more difficult than the previous. Make sure you are using “real”music (as opposed to pedagogical stuff composed specifically as a sight-reading exercise), this way you are constantly exploring new, potential repertory.

Here are a few:

These are all published by the ABRSM:

1.   “Easier piano pieces” – This is a series of books, published by the ABRSM, each book dedicated to a composer. Most of the composers are obscure, and when a well-known composer makes an appearance, the pieces in general are obscure. There are some 90 books at the moment of writing. For an example, look here:
https://www.abrsmpublishing.com/publications/1435

2.   A Romantic Sketch book for piano – A compilation of pieces by different composers, mostly from the romantic period in progressive order of difficulty.

https://www.abrsmpublishing.com/publications/1045

3.   More romantic pieces for piano. There are ten volumes in this series.

https://www.abrsmpublishing.com/publications/1400

4.   Short Romantic pieces for piano. There are ten volumes in this series.

https://www.abrsmpublishing.com/publications/1395


5.   “A Keyboard anthology” there are six volumes ranging from grade 1 to grade 8.

https://www.abrsmpublishing.com/publications/1205

6.   Baroque Keyboard pieces – A compilation of different composers from the Baroque period. This collection of books has extensive and scholarly performance notes (instruments, articulation, ornamentation etc.).

https://www.abrsmpublishing.com/publications/1403

7.   Spectrum – 3 volumes of contemporary music  which is not overly difficult and is an excellent introduction to the idiom.

https://www.abrsmpublishing.com/publications/1969

Christopher Norton’s Microjazz series (published by Boosey & Hawkes) is particularly recommended for sight-reading complex rhythms (although the pieces themselves are technically undemanding).

A lot of the great composers wrote easier pieces either for children or for beginners. These pieces are of a consistently superior musical quality. You can find a list of some in these threads:

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,5063.msg49589.html#msg49589
(Albums for the young)

Once your sight reading is getting really good and you want a bit of a challenge, try these sites, where you can find loads of sheet music by contemporary composers:

https://www.pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,8368.0.html
(Victor Carbajo)

https://www.copy-us.com/?lang=en

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4737.msg44794.html#msg44794
(Jacques Duphly – not really a contemporary composer)

Finally, I have heard good things in the forum about the “Piano celebration series”, published by Frederick Harris, but I have not seen it.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[Vanillawafer]

There are several. 

The best, in my opinion are those ordered by difficulty, so as you go through the book, the next piece is slightly more difficult than the previous. Make sure you are using “real”music (as opposed to pedagogical stuff composed specifically as a sight-reading exercise), this way you are constantly exploring new, potential repertory.

Here are a few:

These are all published by the ABRSM:

1.   “Easier piano pieces” – This is a series of books, published by the ABRSM, each book dedicated to a composer. Most of the composers are obscure, and when a well-known composer makes an appearance, the pieces in general are obscure. There are some 90 books at the moment of writing. For an example, look here:
https://www.abrsmpublishing.com/publications/1435

2.   A Romantic Sketch book for piano – A compilation of pieces by different composers, mostly from the romantic period in progressive order of difficulty.

https://www.abrsmpublishing.com/publications/1045

3.   More romantic pieces for piano. There are ten volumes in this series.

https://www.abrsmpublishing.com/publications/1400

4.   Short Romantic pieces for piano. There are ten volumes in this series.

https://www.abrsmpublishing.com/publications/1395


5.   “A Keyboard anthology” there are six volumes ranging from grade 1 to grade 8.

https://www.abrsmpublishing.com/publications/1205

6.   Baroque Keyboard pieces – A compilation of different composers from the Baroque period. This collection of books has extensive and scholarly performance notes (instruments, articulation, ornamentation etc.).

https://www.abrsmpublishing.com/publications/1403

7.   Spectrum – 3 volumes of contemporary music  which is not overly difficult and is an excellent introduction to the idiom.

https://www.abrsmpublishing.com/publications/1969

Christopher Norton’s Microjazz series (published by Boosey & Hawkes) is particularly recommended for sight-reading complex rhythms (although the pieces themselves are technically undemanding).

A lot of the great composers wrote easier pieces either for children or for beginners. These pieces are of a consistently superior musical quality. You can find a list of some in these threads:

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,5063.msg49589.html#msg49589
(Albums for the young)

Once your sight reading is getting really good and you want a bit of a challenge, try these sites, where you can find loads of sheet music by contemporary composers:

https://www.pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,8368.0.html
(Victor Carbajo)

https://www.copy-us.com/?lang=en

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4737.msg44794.html#msg44794
(Jacques Duphly – not really a contemporary composer)

Finally, I have heard good things in the forum about the “Piano celebration series”, published by Frederick Harris, but I have not seen it.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

Hey Bernhard,
Thanks for another awesome list... one question am I just missing something or can you not order from this company if you live in the US?  When I was filling out the new registration it did not have an option for US in the country selection...

[bernhard]

Hey Bernhard,
Thanks for another awesome list... one question am I just missing something or can you not order from this company if you live in the US?  When I was filling out the new registration it did not have an option for US in the country selection...

As far as I know, you do not need to order these books directly from the ABRSM.

Most music bookshops should stock them or be able to get them. You can try this one (which I use often):

https://www.burtnco.com

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[6ft 4]

Someone got there before me

[bsonnen]

If you would like a real challenge and want to learn more about score reading try:

"Preparatory Exercises in Score Reading"
by Reginald Morris & Howard Ferguson.

[BoliverAllmon]

Hey bernhard. So do you prefer just sight-reading real music or do you recommend books on sight-reading? I have the one that starts you on preliminary exercises then goes to Bach chorales. I can't remember the name now.

boliver

[omnisis]

I highly suggest using Howard Richman's "Super Sightreading Secrets".  He doesn't provide you with tons of exrecises, only a few to get you started.  What he does give you is solid pedagogically sound info on how to approach sight-reading and a method to improve keyboard choreography (sense of touch) and visual perception (ability to read and process notes) simultaneously.  There is much sense in this because hitting the right notes is a combination of both.  His methods aren't "revolutiontary" but they are very sound and have helped me tremendously. 

He also gives some exercises for use with the bach chorals.  If you can get access to a hymnal or collection of choral works I find that they really help with chord shapes and multi-part reading.  They tend to be a bit bland w/r/t to rhythm however so I suggest you buy something like the "microjazz" series by Chris Norton (i think).  That will give you some rhythms to practice sight-reading.  Anthologies are great because you won't "know" all the tunes beforehand.

~omnisis

[bernhard]

Hey bernhard. So do you prefer just sight-reading real music or do you recommend books on sight-reading? I have the one that starts you on preliminary exercises then goes to Bach chorales. I can't remember the name now.

boliver

I follow closely Richmann's book.

For total beginners the first step is Edna Mae-Burnan's "a dozen a day" (for sight-reiding only - not as exercises).

As soon as some facility is acquired, I move straight on to repertory. (Starting easy, fo course and progressivelygetting more difficult - fortunately there is repertory for the piano at all levels to allow for that -  for some intruments this is not possible).

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[bernhard]

I highly suggest using Howard Richman's "Super Sightreading Secrets".  He doesn't provide you with tons of exrecises, only a few to get you started.  What he does give you is solid pedagogically sound info on how to approach sight-reading and a method to improve keyboard choreography (sense of touch) and visual perception (ability to read and process notes) simultaneously.  There is much sense in this because hitting the right notes is a combination of both.  His methods aren't "revolutiontary" but they are very sound and have helped me tremendously. 

He also gives some exercises for use with the bach chorals.  If you can get access to a hymnal or collection of choral works I find that they really help with chord shapes and multi-part reading.  They tend to be a bit bland w/r/t to rhythm however so I suggest you buy something like the "microjazz" series by Chris Norton (i think).  That will give you some rhythms to practice sight-reading.  Anthologies are great because you won't "know" all the tunes beforehand.

~omnisis

I will second that

[6ft 4]

Is Richman's book still useful if one is already fairly proficient at sight reading? (i.e. can sight read most grade 6-7 pieces reasonably well)

[bernhard]

Is Richman's book still useful if one is already fairly proficient at sight reading? (i.e. can sight read most grade 6-7 pieces reasonably well)

Yes. Mostly because it is a very organised way to go about it. Like you, when I first read it I dould already sight-read - but I had learned it the hard way (by accompanying).  Apart from the fact that it gave me mucyh new information, it provided a very good strategy to teach sight-reading to my students.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.