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10 Tips and Tricks for Sight Reading Music

Sight reading seems to be one of those challenges that either a beginning musician loves or has

recurring nightmares about. For those of us in the latter category, weve consulted with musiceducators who specialize in the important skill of sight reading music to make it less scary and

(maybe even) a little enoyable!

Practice beforehand

"ime signatures and key signatures are, well, key to being a successful sight reader. For a #uick

review of how to understand time signatures and key signatures, check out ourbasic sheet music

reading primer.

First, familiarize yourself with and practice a wide variety of time signatures so that youre ready

for any situation. $ou can mask a mistake in pitch much easier than one in rhythm. %s the sayinggoes &always count' never stop. eres a website we foundwith helpful, free rhythm

e*ercises.

%nother suggestion is to print out some free manuscript paper. +rite out various rhythms of half

notes and #uarter notes in - time. e*t, do the same with #uarter notes and eighth notes, then

eighth notes and si*teenth notes. /lay each of the rhythms as you write them or

count-tap-verbalize them out loud, and mi*0and0match them as you go along. "hat way, youllfamiliarize yourself with how they look on the page and youll be prepared to perform each

rhythm in any conte*t.

e*t, memorize your key signatures! % tip for reading S%1/ (maor) key signatures is to lookat the last sharp, and move a half0step above that. 2n this e*ample, your last sharp is a 3, so a half

step up from 30sharp is 4, meaning your key is 4 5aor.

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% tip for reading F6%" key signatures is to look at the second0to0last flat (reading left to right).

2n this e*ample, your second0to0last flat is 7, so youre in 70flat 5aor. "he e*ception to this rule

is F maor (or 4 minor) which only has one flat (80flat).

"hen, be sure to know your scales forward and backward. /ractice singing or playing your

scales, while reciting (or thinking of) the name of each note as you play it.

%long those lines, learning to sight sing, even if youre not a vocalist, will help you sight read

music for any instrument. /hrasing, intonation and musicality are universal, and sight singingwill help you practice those without having to concentrate so closely on what your hands are

doing.

%lso be sure to practice, practice, practice sight reading music without looking at your hands.

9nowing thefeel of your instruments keys-frets-fingerboard is essential to sight reading musicbecause your eyes will be focused on the piece. Sight reading is like training for a marathon, you

need to continuously practice your skills in order to keep them. 8ut, in the end it will pay off!

Sight reading is one of the greatest musical oys you will ever e*perience!

Right before playing

2t goes without saying that first youll want to look at the piece. "ap out the rhythm, including

rests, then read through the notes and follow the overall structure so youll know where to go atrepeat bars, 4.3., 3odas, Segnos and the like. 5entally commit changes in key or time, as well

as accidentals, dynamics and other markings. 2f youre allowed, make helpful marks on your

sheet music in any spots you anticipate having difficulties. ever leave home without your handysheet music pencil!

e*t, sound the piece out in your head. /ay attention to patterns, including scale and arpeggio

fragments. 2f you recognize patterns ahead of time, the notes will be much easier to sight read,and it will free you up to focus on other parts of the piece.

"he best musicians study the music closely before playing. "he reason they sound so good whenthey sight read a piece for the first time is because theyve already studied the sheet music. +hile

the director is handing out the sheet music, the best musicians are secretly scrutinizing it,

studying the road map, looking for potentially awkward passages, tapping out rhythm, trying outfingerings:all without playing a note!

http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtdFPE.asp?ppn=MN0039135&http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtdFPE.asp?ppn=MN0039135&

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When you begin the piece

4ont forget to breathe! 2t sounds silly, but sight reading music, especially under pressure, can bedaunting. 8reathing can help you keep tempo and follow your phrasing. For winds players and

vocalists its even helpful to mark where you plan to breathe beforehand.

Similarly, try to rela* and concentrate. 9eep your eyes on the page, even if you make a mistake.

4ont correct yourself, ust keep moving along. +e promise, it will get easier!

In revie! our 10 Tips for Sight Reading Music "re#

;. Familiarize yourself with a variety of rhythms.

. /ractice sight singing.

?. "ake a minute to e*amine the piece youre sight reading. "ap out the rhythm, read

through the notes and follow the structure.

@. 5entally commit changes in key or time signature within the piece.

A. 5ake markings on the paper (or on your tablet-i/ad), if allowed.

B. Sound the whole piece out in your head, recognizing patters.

;C. 8reathe, rela* and keep going, even if you make a mistake.

;;. (8onus tip) ever leave home without your sheet music pencil!

http://www.musicnotes.com/anywhere/http://www.musicnotes.com/anywhere/