Sight reading

[silverskies]

I have been playing for 5 years and although I don't have any trouble with playing and memorizing music, I can hardly sight read.

The weird thing is: if I already know what it sounds like, I can probably do the rhythm and right notes, but without that, I can't.

Any suggestions on how to improve?

[vinie]

learn to read notes, yes, you can do that already, but realy learn to read notes.

Pick up a music book from time to time, and read the notes, don't use your instrument, yust read it. (also peaces of music in the f-key)
bould it up, until you can read notes as if your reading a book.
If you can do that, don't forget to practise it from time to time.

[Phineas]

Silverskies

I have the same issues. Mainly because I am a solo player. Soloist are often required to memorize a piece/tune to give the best performance. However, in groups, everyone has to play the same thing. I recently ran into this issue when trying to play with a flute section in a local community band. People keep telling me I am the best player in the section, but you would not know it when I am sight reading the music...lol You may be able to read music fine, but reading forward while playing takes practice.

My suggestion to you is pattern books. The easiest way to get your sightreading upto speed is to read as much different material as you can. Half of sight reading is recognizing common patterns. The more common patterns you know in all keys, the easier it is to read ahead and play at the same time. Another good thing to do is read music with a lot of accidentals. Get use to how rhythmic patterns sound on paper(written out) using a metronome. This has helped me get back up to speed in a short time.

I hope some of this helps!

Phineas

[etgohomeok]

Most of the time (like at All State auditions and stuff) you get a minute or two to look at the music. If you are unable to play music without knowing how it sounds in advance, I would recommend developing techniques to use those one or two minutes to develop an idea of what it sounds like in your head. Run through it in your fingers a couple of times.

[pied_piper]

Here are a few things you can do to help improve your sight reading:

1 - Check the time signature - it always helps to know the meter
2 - Check the key signature - it ESPECIALLY helps to know what key you are playing in.
3 - Scan through the music looking for accidentals, meter changes, key changes, unusual or difficult rhythms, and anything else that you can find that looks like it might trip you up. Also look for familiar patterns, especially parts of scales - those should be easy (if they are not, review your scales in ALL keys). When you see a familiar pattern, look to see if there is a break in the pattern i.e. a scale that suddenly has something other than a stepwise pattern thrown in someplace.
4 - When you look at the music, try to imagine what it sounds like and hear it in your head before you play it.
5 - When playing through the music, you can see much more than what you are playing. Using your peripheral vision, try to look a few notes ahead of where you are actually playing. That will help you anticipate what is coming up.
6 - As others have suggested, practice sight reading. If you run out of music, go to some of the online music sites. Many will show you a sample page or two. Sight read those right from your computer screen.

[fii]

hey silverskies i also experiencing this problem. my hearing is way better than my sight reading. my sight reading is really bad.

i think the only way you can improve your sight reading is try to sight-reading as much score as possible. get yourself used to reading notes. that way, in my opinion, you can improve your sight reading gradually.

(hope i can improve my sight reading too, but the thing is i don't get the motivation to train myself. argh! )

[silverskies]

I've been taking your suggestions these months and trying to "read" music books without actually playing them and I believe I am improving. I still have difficulty counting and staying in rhythm but I will continue to practice.

Thanks for all the great suggestions!