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#1367904 - 02/07/10 02:02 PM Sight reading
takingnero Offline
Junior Member

Registered: 02/07/10
Posts: 6
Okay, so I just started the piano about a month ago and I'm currently learning to play a song with mostly online tutorials. I also kind of know how to read sheet music, at least the basic treble and bass clefs, but it takes me forever to get through a few measures without the online tutorials for this song. I'm just wondering, how long did it take for most people to learn to sight read? I'm really bad at it.

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#1367912 - 02/07/10 02:07 PM Re: Sight reading [Re: takingnero]
Teodor Offline
500 Post Club Member

Registered: 12/16/09
Posts: 708
Loc: Bulgaria
In 3 months I went from being unable to sight-read to being moderately bad at it. You just start with the easiest pieces even if you think they are boring. Go through them slowly and try to work out which note is which. As you keep doing so you will see that you are getting better and better and you can eventually move on to something harder.

At first I used this for 1-2 weeks to start recognizing notes and where they are on the keyboard faster because I was away from the piano most of the time.

http://www.emusictheory.com/practice/pianoKeys.html

Give it a try, I can now read through things that I thought were impossible for me. Takes a while to recognize the notes still but it's so much better than it used to be. It gets better and better every month. I'm currently working on things like these.

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/teodortenchev/Image153.jpg?t=1265569709[/img]

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/teodortenchev/Image152.jpg?t=1265569770[/img]

Having a teacher definitely helps though, she is helping me progress a lot... I don't know what I'd do without her guidance. smile


Edited by Teodor (02/07/10 02:10 PM)
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#1367941 - 02/07/10 02:36 PM Re: Sight reading [Re: Teodor]
takingnero Offline
Junior Member

Registered: 02/07/10
Posts: 6
Nice program, I don't think I can afford a piano teacher though. I'll keep trying though, hopefully I'll be able to read and play something nice soon.

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#1368146 - 02/07/10 07:43 PM Re: Sight reading [Re: takingnero]
4evr88 Offline
500 Post Club Member

Registered: 06/27/09
Posts: 768
Loc: California
Sing the name of the notes you play. If you are playing a chord, sing the name of the chord. It works!

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#1368312 - 02/07/10 11:37 PM Re: Sight reading [Re: 4evr88]
custard apple Online   blank
1000 Post Club Member

Registered: 12/11/09
Posts: 1709
Loc: Sydney
Don't worry about how long it takes, even the pros work at it.

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#1368396 - 02/08/10 03:46 AM Re: Sight reading [Re: custard apple]
takingnero Offline
Junior Member

Registered: 02/07/10
Posts: 6
That's a crazy idea 4evr... but I just might try it, haha. That's true custard, it just kind of seems impossible right now though.

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#1368399 - 02/08/10 03:53 AM Re: Sight reading [Re: 4evr88]
landorrano Offline
1000 Post Club Member

Registered: 02/26/06
Posts: 1895
Loc: Andorra
Originally Posted By: 4evr88keys
Sing the name of the notes you play.


Right !

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#1368422 - 02/08/10 05:58 AM Re: Sight reading [Re: landorrano]
LaRate Offline
Full Member

Registered: 01/11/10
Posts: 247
Loc: Germany
One thing that helped me was a little iPhone App (Note Trainer), that allows me to practise reading notes pretty much everywhere where i have a spare minute (waiting room, bus etc.).

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#1368423 - 02/08/10 06:02 AM Re: Sight reading [Re: LaRate]
custard apple Online   blank
1000 Post Club Member

Registered: 12/11/09
Posts: 1709
Loc: Sydney
takingnero: don't give up, can you handle 15 min of torture each day ? If you can do this, then increase to 20 min, then 25 min, then 30 min etc.

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#1368467 - 02/08/10 08:26 AM Re: Sight reading [Re: takingnero]
CebuKid Online   content
1000 Post Club Member

Registered: 11/08/09
Posts: 1093
Originally Posted By: takingnero
Okay, so I just started the piano about a month ago and I'm currently learning to play a song with mostly online tutorials. I also kind of know how to read sheet music, at least the basic treble and bass clefs, but it takes me forever to get through a few measures without the online tutorials for this song. I'm just wondering, how long did it take for most people to learn to sight read? I'm really bad at it.


Here are some other software programs that you can use (in addition to the one that Teodor mentions):

http://apps.facebook.com/readpianonotes/ <--- You need a "Facebook" account for this one, but it's free. I am currently at "level 5."

http://www.pianoisfun.com/ <--- Myself and my daughter both use this one. This is mainly for kids, but grownups can use this too.

These are good "learning aids", but....the only way to become a better sight-reader is to "just do it." Read a bunch of easy, easy, boring stuff every single day for at least 15 min. or more.

My goal is to turn this weakness (I am a poor sight reader too) into a strength by the end of the year. smile

Again, I get jealous of those who can just play something that's plopped in front of them. It makes me wonder how much of the piano-playing population actually sight reads at their playing level. My sight reading level is about 3-4 grades below my playing. mad

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#1368490 - 02/08/10 09:01 AM Re: Sight reading [Re: takingnero]
Phlebas Offline
4000 Post Club Member

Registered: 01/02/03
Posts: 4654
Loc: New York City
Originally Posted By: takingnero
Okay, so I just started the piano about a month ago and I'm currently learning to play a song with mostly online tutorials. I also kind of know how to read sheet music, at least the basic treble and bass clefs, but it takes me forever to get through a few measures without the online tutorials for this song. I'm just wondering, how long did it take for most people to learn to sight read? I'm really bad at it.


Are you talking about the ability to read notes, or sight reading? They are two different things.

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#1369019 - 02/08/10 09:25 PM Re: Sight reading [Re: Phlebas]
Akira Offline
1000 Post Club Member

Registered: 07/27/07
Posts: 1643
Loc: Los Angeles, CA
Its a really loaded question, takingnero. How long does it become to be a really good writer?

Of course the answer is, it depends on the individual. Other answer might be, you could be very good in a relatively short period of time. Or another answer might be, you might never be good at it.

Reading is not the hard part. Its making yourself to make your fingers do what your eyes are seeing. There's really a lot going on, particularly difficult for a beginner. Your brain has much to process that is not second nature to you. Note recognition, keyboard familiarity, trying to look at two clefs at the same time, while simultaneously trying to find what keys those notes correspond to, dynamics, rhythm, and so forth. It really is overwhelming.

Like with most things, you get "better" (notice I didn't say 'good' or 'proficient') the more you do it (sorry, I hate to state the obvious). Play as much random pieces as you can stomach, to train your eyes and fingers to learn to read. If you do a little each day, over time, you'll improve. How much time, is anybody's guess.

Not the answer you were looking for, I know... smile

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#1369036 - 02/08/10 09:41 PM Re: Sight reading [Re: Akira]
CebuKid Online   content
1000 Post Club Member

Registered: 11/08/09
Posts: 1093
Originally Posted By: Akira
Its a really loaded question, takingnero. How long does it become to be a really good writer?

Of course the answer is, it depends on the individual. Other answer might be, you could be very good in a relatively short period of time. Or another answer might be, you might never be good at it.

Reading is not the hard part. Its making yourself to make your fingers do what your eyes are seeing. There's really a lot going on, particularly difficult for a beginner. Your brain has much to process that is not second nature to you. Note recognition, keyboard familiarity, trying to look at two clefs at the same time, while simultaneously trying to find what keys those notes correspond to, dynamics, rhythm, and so forth. It really is overwhelming.

Like with most things, you get "better" (notice I didn't say 'good' or 'proficient') the more you do it (sorry, I hate to state the obvious). Play as much random pieces as you can stomach, to train your eyes and fingers to learn to read. If you do a little each day, over time, you'll improve. How much time, is anybody's guess.

Not the answer you were looking for, I know... smile


Akira, well stated, and I take my statement back of sight-reading being a strength. I just want to be decent at it so I can play something easy (like during the holidays), or accompany someone.
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#1369213 - 02/09/10 03:42 AM Re: Sight reading [Re: CebuKid]
custard apple Online   blank
1000 Post Club Member

Registered: 12/11/09
Posts: 1709
Loc: Sydney
Further to Akira's post, how do you like to learn ? I am a very visual person so I might find sight reading easier than you. But I have to work really hard at ear training in jazz because I'm not a natural listener.

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