Improving Technique

[sakuramimato]

I came from a district Honor Band rehearsal and we had a sightreading session that I didn't do so well in. I noticed that when I first start reading a sheet of music, I tend to get scared of difficult runs and rhythms that I'm not familiar with. Are there any ways of improving technique, rhythms, and note identification to aid me with sightreading?

[fluttiegurl]

If you do not have one, finding a good private teacher would help. The more music you read, the better you become at sightreading. I teach my students the "STARS" method for sight reading. S-key signatures T-time signature A-accidentals R-rhythm S-speed or tempo. Do not be overwhelmed by the hard sections of the music. By taking a moment to analyze these sections, you give your brain time to realize that it actually knows how to do this stuff, and it is not so scarry. Unfortunately, you usually only have a few seconds to do this, so you learn to do it quickly. The hardest part of sight reading for most people, generally speaking, is rhythm. Spend some time working on difficult rhythms, analyzing them using a counting system or clapping. There are some books on the market for this, or you can make up some of your own. Your band director may be willing to help by writing some out for you as well. Once you are familiar with different rhythmic patterns, you shouls be able to recognize them later on. Runs are merely patterns of notes. Knowing your scales (major and minor) and arpeggios will help with these. When you look at a run in a piece of music, try to figure out the basic pattern (whether it is a scale, arpeggio, fourths, chromatics, or something else familiar to you). Keep in mind that this pattern may change at any time, so be sure to look carefully.

[ick27]

There are several aspects to sight reading well.. To improve sightreading, you must practice sightreading (new music in band, etudes at home, etc..) Also, the more music you've worked up, the better your sightreading will be, but this takes time.

I think the best thing you can do for your sightreading is scale practice. Play scales and arpeggios the full range of the instrument. Don't worry about speed right off, the goal is to get smoothe transitions between each note. It's good to play these from memory as well.. With exercises, as with working on etudes or pieces, work them in a speed that you can play the notes confidently. It may seem odd that working on scales from memory and carefully preparing pieces can help your sightreading, but it really does. I don't know a good sightreader who can't also play excellent scales.

[us_army_flutist]

I say "FIND THE DOWNBEAT." Really, part of the frustration of sight-reading is losing your place. In that vein, try to get maybe the first notes of sixteenth-note runs so you can keep your place. Remember, time doesn't stop because you can't keep up. This is my experience from years of sight-reading nightmares. Most of all, don't beat yourself up if you didn't get it all or because the person next to you is a better sight-reader. Doing it is the only thing that will help you improve and try not to be afraid. Give yourself positive thoughts going into it. Also, LISTEN for key changes. One of the most annoying things in my experience is people who don't realize that the key has changed after quite a few measures. You should be able to recoginize a change in tonality.

[us_army_flutist]

Also, in one of my "light-bulb" moments I realized that music is beamed in a way that it makes sense mathematically and logically. For example, I used to always have trouble with 6/8 time. I never quite got the concept that it isn't in 6, but in 2. Same thing with 9/8 which is in 3, and 12/8 which is in four. Notice that everything is bracketed like a triplet. The only difference is that it's based on a triplet feel. Next time you practice, study the brackets and you'll see that they represent the major part of the beat. In 4/4 time, 2 eighth notes by themselves are beamed together, representing a quarter note. I don't know if this is a hang-up for others, but it definitely used to be for me.