Hi Guys, as some of you might know, I've been going through all the threads created here at ABF, so far I'm as far back as January 2006.

I've just come across a really informative thread about sight reading which to me became a Eureka moment. I never thought to look at sight reading in the way as this thread describes.

Although I haven't started my lessons yet and would probably have found out in time, it may be worth some of the very new self teachers to have a read.

Well I found it a very good thread and thank the participants for their info, even if they're no longer visiting ABF.

Here's the link for anyone interested:


http://www.pianoworld.com/forum/ubbthrea...tml#Post1005104

Neil.

Thanks for posting. I am new to this website and I found that very informative. Thanks again.

nice! I started learning to read music using an iPhone app. I think it's useful to have something for practicing away from the piano. But after buying Alfred's all in one, which teaches interval reading, I see that this is also very useful.

I've been using an iOS app too, 'Tenuto', which one are you using?

I am unable to access this,as it is requesting a username and password,and there is a warning that the request is insecure.
Anybody getting the same response? Any advice? I am the world's worst sightreader,and need whatever help I can get! Thanks

Strange, I have no problems there, it looks like any other pianoworld page. Just that page, or anything pianoworld?

For me the thread came up and a username/password box popped up too. I clicked the "X" on the username box and it went away and the thread still worked fine. Weird.

I think the original poster is over thinking his problem. He's worried he'll develop bad habits if he keeps sight-reading using his current process, but I don't think that's true. I think if he keeps doing what he was doing then the problem will take care of itself. It would be interesting to get an update from him and see how his sight-reading is going now.

Regarding to the sight-reading, a few days ago I found a very interesting blog of a pianist who describes his experience in the last 4 years working on his sight-reading: http://pianosightreading.blogspot.com

Hey, great link, thanks. Think I saw that site a few weeks back but didn't bother to read it. I have it bookmarked now.

I'm using PianoTutor.

I'm also trying to improve my sight reading.

Currently I'm choosing to learn pieces that have plenty of ledger lines, and three-note chords. The reason being that when I'm reading my biggest stumbling point seems to be these issues: 3 ledger lines, and certain chords of 3 notes. I'm just trying to get as much practice as possible at the things I find hardest.

What I'm finding is that I'm sometimes almost bypassing the names of the notes as I read/play, and I'm going - in my head and my hand - straight to 'middle C plus third and fifth-sharpened down from first ledger line'. I'm not sure this is *entirely* a good thing. I mean I think the pattern recognition thing is good, but I'm playing the note without/before knowing what the note is called. And then I'm faced with the same issue again visually if I start trying to read a different edition (written out differently e.g. ledger notes transferred to other staff).

I think the only real solution is to play lots and lots and lots of stuff that is at or a little below your ability (preferably below) so as to get an almost instant "feel" for where the keys are.
In no case, I believe, should you EVER say/think "That's an F, that's a G#." Such a process only slows you down and prevents further progress.
It would be like reading a word and thinking "That's an 'a,' and that's an 'n.'" Ah, "an"! This is how we learn as children, and we abandon it asap.
I too have a set of flashcards for sight-reading, but when I use them I try not to say what the note is. Rather, I try to instantly visualize where the note is on the keyboard. It's more productive, I believe.