how do i get better at sight reading?

Question

i can play almost all of 100 years on the piano (by five for fighting), except the part that says, 'fifteen, there's still time for you, time to buy and time to choose' or whatever. i practice a lot but i absolutely SUCK at sight reading! i learned to play 100 years by constantly repeating, not actually by the skill of playing piano...actually i suck at piano but i forced myself to do something cool and i was jealous at how good my friend is at piano and i wanted to get better. so my question is how do i get better at sight reading??????? PLEASE HELP ME!!!

Answer 1

This sounds odd, but to become skilled at sight reading, you must sight read. If you want to sight read well, start with something so easy, it makes you laugh. Then slightly harder and so on. That's not what you need; you just need to practice correctly and don't set your expectations so high as to think you'll be able to magically play a song perfect without years of experience on this instrument. However, you are not "sight reading" in this situation. You are practicing, but not the correct way. Take it one hand at a time and learn each hand really well. Then put the two hands together slowly. I just want you to know I am a piano teacher and a California State level performer. Keep up the drive; I know you'll be able to do it!

Answer 2

Practice is good, but I know exactly what you're saying (I feel the same way sometimes). You have to actually practice sight reading. This means start a piece at the beginning (go slowly), use both hands, and don't stop if you mess up. Start with simple songs and work your way up. You may have to buy some new material, but look for sales or cheap stuff - it doesn't matter if you like it if all you're doing is sight reading it anyway. Good luck!

Answer 3

Get a book specifically for sight reading with exercises and practice every day. Use a metronome too. The idea is to get the rhythm right, and keep going. If you miss a few notes, don't worry about it. You can also run through once by just placing your fingers over the keys and touching them as you read the music (don't really hit the notes, though). Look at the key signature, look at the time signature, run through it silently once, then play it a little slower than ideal speed with the metronome. You'll get better if you keep up the practice.

Answer 4

The hard way is to get years of experience.

Ok, so here is the other way. You need somebody to help you with this one.

When you sight read, you are supposed to be looking about a measure ahead. Have a friend or teacher do this for you:
While you are sightreading something, have them use their fingers or a piece of paper and cover up the next measure you are about to play just as you are getting to it. This will force you to read that measure before you even get to it. You will be reading ahead and interpreting what is there. Continue through the rest of the music in this fashion. It should prove helpful.

Good luck.

Answer 5

If you have trouble with sight reading it may be because you have trouble with the rhythm/note patterns? You have to polish those skills first in order to better your sight reading skills. You can buy books with simple exercises that can help you learn to quickly adapt to tricky note combinations. Also maybe try picking out a new piece everyday, studying the piece (without playing it) for five minutes, then just play straight through it. Practicing will truly help you the most. Good luck!

Answer 6

First of all, you should be very free with music grammar and read every note correctly. Practice hands separately as more as you can. It will let you feel comfortable with both hands performance in future. And one very important piano rule : your eyes have to be always one measure ahead on sight reading. Then, you will be prepared for every following bar of new music.
Good luck!

Answer 7

So..
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It's surely the leader program of its type
Cheers.

Answer 8

I agree with Nadia...you have to be able to sight read easy material before you can move on to hard. 6 years ago I would not have believed that but my saxophone teacher in college MADE me practice sightreading easy stuff. I thought it was pointless and useless and then, it actually worked. Don't give up. Brush up on fundamental music theory and you'll have the tools to sight read well. Good luck!!

Answer 9

You can only get better at sightreading by practicing. As you start practicing you will notice that when you are reading music you will tend to look at the next few notes as you are currently playing some notes. This helps greatly when sightreading.

Answer 10

The obvious thing to say here is take lessons.

Less obvious is ask your friend to teach you.