. . . I'm getting pretty decent at sight reading classical music but when it comes to sightreading jazz I get stuck when I have to change chords. Can a jazz player give me some tips or tell me what they do when sightreading a jazz piece? Thank you so much!
If by "jazz piece", you mean something where every note is written out, you may just need more experience to familiarize yourself with the "look and feel" of jazz chords on the page.
If it's the rhythms that are confusing you, that's also a matter of getting more experienced in reading syncopated and "swing" rhythms.
Perhaps it's worthwhile to practice _just the chord transitions_, if that's where you hesitate.
There should be a sign on top of every music stand:
. . . When having trouble,
slow down!If you're reading jazz from a "lead sheet" -- a melody line and chord symbols -- that's a whole different skill from reading classical music. And - conceptually - it's way, way harder.
. Charles
