Hi Robert,

I have a lot of difficulty memorizing music, but I am a wonderful sight reader!
I think that skill is the result of having piano teachers all along who made
sight reading a part of each lesson.

Here are a few suggestions that might be helpful to you:

1. Buy some graded collections books at an easier level than your actual
playing proficiency to start. Try sight reading a piece every day. Playing
something easier will mean less accidentals and strange rhythms so that you can
build your confidence.

2. Don't strive for perfection, and don't stop every time you make a mistake.
Keep the rhythm accurate and fill the rhythm with something reasonable even if
it isn't exactly what's written - or just keep in rhythm and start playing on
the next beat.

3. Try to look ahead as you play to notice patterns such as ascending scales -
i.e, read phrases rather than individual notes or chords.

4. Listen to recordings and then try playing from the score. You'll become
familiar with composers' styles, and that will make it easier to sightread their
music.

5. Play duets with a friend. (My favorite!)

Hope this is helpful!

Sarah
----- Original Message -----
From: Robert Coontz
To: musicalfossils@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 5:46 PM
Subject: [musicalfossils] Drills for basic sight-reading?





I started the piano from scratch as an adult student two years ago but still
can't find notes and chords fluently from a score. I can figure them out, with
hesitation and fumbling. It's frustrating!

My teacher and other people tell me that it's just a matter of time and
practice, but there must be some systematic way to accelerate the process
(assuming I'm not musically dyslexic). Can anyone recommend drills, techniques,
even computer software that might help me over this hurdle?

Thanks,

Robert





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