Why can’t I sight-read music?

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Why can’t I sight-read music?

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If you’ve been playing piano for a while and you still can’t sight-read music, it could be due to several reasons:

  • you don’t practise sight-reading on a regular basis
  • you memorise the moment you learn a new piece and don’t use the score
  • you always learn pieces hands separately
  • you lack music theory knowledge
  • you lack technical skills

 

FOR MORE INFO >> 10 Habits to Avoid When Reading Music & How to Break Them

General Questions on Sight-Reading

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How far ahead should I look when sight-reading?

When sight-reading, try to look at least one beat ahead which can mean looking several notes ahead, depending on the piece. To do this effectively, learn how to read groups of notes.

 

FOR MORE INFO >> How to Look Ahead when Sight-Reading

m

Why can’t I sight-read music?

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If you’ve been playing piano for a while and you still can’t sight-read music, it could be due to several reasons:

  • you don’t practise sight-reading on a regular basis
  • you memorise the moment you learn a new piece and don’t use the score
  • you always learn pieces hands separately
  • you lack music theory knowledge
  • you lack technical skills

 

FOR MORE INFO >> 10 Habits to Avoid When Reading Music & How to Break Them

Questions on Sight-Reading Practice

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What music should I use for sight-reading?

If you’re just starting out, I recommend you use graded sight-reading books or graded repertoire books because these are progressive and offer a structure to follow. If you’ve been practising sight-reading for a while, use sets of pieces or sheet music by your favourite composers or composers you are curious about.

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    Emmanuelle Fonsny

    Emmanuelle Fonsny

    Emmanuelle Fonsny, or Manu, is a piano and violin teacher, composer and accompanist based in Sydney, Australia. She is passionate about sharing her love of music and her sight-reading and practice tips to help other pianists become more confident sight-readers.

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    Do you find chords hard to sight-read? Does your mind go blank whenever you see chords? Then watch this video where you'll learn how to sight-read the most common piano chords quickly and exercises you can do to play chords more easily. For more on this topic, see this blog article: * How to Sight-Read Piano Chords Quickly - https://www.pianosightreading.com.au/sight-read-chords/ VIDEOS MENTIONED: Basic CHORDS - Sight-Reading Practice (Piano) - https://youtu.be/HVXaZj5l0NA Basic CHORDS in Major Keys with Sharps - Sight-Reading Practice (Piano) - https://youtu.be/IAPc4GbyMyk How to Read Intervals - Interval Identification DRILLS! - https://youtu.be/9BrXvQ9_LG8 How to Identify Intervals on the Staff Quickly - https://youtu.be/jKKTyBpVbMo Read more on the blog: https://www.pianosightreading.com.au #sightread #sightreading #sightreadinggang ~~~ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Intro 01:04 - What is a triad? 01:54 - Root position chords 02:15 - 1st inversion chords 02:29 - 2nd inversion chords ~~~ RECOMMENDED SIGHT-READING RESOURCES: ~ For beginners ~ * Piano Sight-Reading: A Fresh Approach by John Kember - https://amzn.to/2R51OZv * Sight-Reading Exercises Op.45 by Arnoldo Sartorio - https://imslp.org/wiki/Sight_Reading_Exercises%2C_Op.45_(Sartorio%2C_Arnoldo) * Gradus: Progressive Piano Repertoire in 12 Volumes by Jeff Manookian - https://imslp.org/wiki/Gradus:_Progressive_Piano_Repertoire_in_12_Volumes_(Manookian%2C_Jeff) ~ For more advanced ~ *Essential Keyboard Repertoire Vol. 1-8 - https://amzn.to/3km7POd *Essential Keyboard Etudes - https://amzn.to/2Rs7CfO * Free piano sheet music (searchable by composer, difficulty, styles, title and number of sharps or flats) - https://www.pianosightreading.com.au/free-piano-sheet-music/ ~~~ THE GEAR I USE FOR SIGHT-READING: iPad Pro 12.9" - https://geni.us/iPad-pro Stylus Pen - https://geni.us/stylus-pen Firefly Page Turner - https://geni.us/firefly ForScore App - https://forscore.co/ Yamaha CLP-635 - https://au.yamaha.com/en/products/musical_instruments/pianos/clavinova/clp-635/index.html ~~~ CONNECT WITH ME: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pianosightreading/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pianosightreading/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/piano_sight_reading/ ~~~ Disclaimer: Some of the links in this description are affiliate links which means I may get a small commission if you purchase the product I recommend but at no extra cost to you. This helps support the channel and allows me to make videos like this every week. So thanks in advance for your support!
    How to Sight-Read Piano Chords Quickly + Chord Exercises
    YouTube Video UCjv25NHN78so-V-r-wDHtjg_Z2914CyW2Io
    Wanna know the truth and nothing but the truth? Then watch this video to learn how Sight-Reading Factory works, to see and hear sample sight-reading exercises and to hear what I really think about Sight-Reading Factory and whether it's worth using for piano. To sign up and get one month free, go to: https://www.sightreadingfactory.com/share/uqQh5aYJuIJPjabthDP0 For more on this topic, see this blog article: * Sight-Reading Factory Review (2021) - Any Good for Pianists? - https://www.pianosightreading.com.au/sight-reading-factory/ Read more on the blog: https://www.pianosightreading.com.au #sightread #sightreading #sightreadinggang ~~~ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Intro 00:16 - What Is Sight-Reading Factory? 00:34 - How to Use Sight-Reading Factory 03:55 - Samples of Sight-Reading Exercises for Piano - Easiest Level 04:55 - Samples and Demo of Sight-Reading Exercises for Piano - Hardest Level 06:24 - Pros of Using Sight-Reading Factory 07:25 - Cons of Using Sight-Reading Factory 09:25 - Pricing of Sight-Reading Factory 09:52 - How to Sign up to Sight-Reading Factory 10:24 - Outro ~~~ RECOMMENDED SIGHT-READING RESOURCES: ~ For beginners ~ * Piano Sight-Reading: A Fresh Approach by John Kember - https://amzn.to/2R51OZv * Sight-Reading Exercises Op.45 by Arnoldo Sartorio - https://imslp.org/wiki/Sight_Reading_Exercises%2C_Op.45_(Sartorio%2C_Arnoldo) * Gradus: Progressive Piano Repertoire in 12 Volumes by Jeff Manookian - https://imslp.org/wiki/Gradus:_Progressive_Piano_Repertoire_in_12_Volumes_(Manookian%2C_Jeff) ~ For more advanced ~ *Essential Keyboard Repertoire Vol. 1-8 - https://amzn.to/3km7POd *Essential Keyboard Etudes - https://amzn.to/2Rs7CfO * Free piano sheet music (searchable by composer, difficulty, styles, title and number of sharps or flats) - https://www.pianosightreading.com.au/free-piano-sheet-music/ ~~~ THE GEAR I USE FOR SIGHT-READING: iPad Pro 12.9" - https://geni.us/iPad-pro Stylus Pen - https://geni.us/stylus-pen Firefly Page Turner - https://geni.us/firefly ForScore App - https://forscore.co/ Yamaha CLP-635 - https://au.yamaha.com/en/products/musical_instruments/pianos/clavinova/clp-635/index.html ~~~ CONNECT WITH ME: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pianosightreading/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pianosightreading/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/piano_sight_reading/ ~~~ Disclaimer: Some of the links in this description are affiliate links which means I may get a small commission if you purchase the product I recommend but at no extra cost to you. This helps support the channel and allows me to make videos like this every week. So thanks in advance for your support!
    Sight-Reading Factory for Piano - Demo & Honest Review
    YouTube Video UCjv25NHN78so-V-r-wDHtjg_SanqoZZhERA
    This is Part 2 of the basic chords sight-reading practice. In Part 1, we looked at chords in root position, first inversion chords, second inversion chords and chords with accidentals. In this video, we'll look at these same 3 types of chords but in major key signatures spanning 1 to 7 sharps. For Part 1, see: *Basic CHORDS - Sight-Reading Practice (Piano) -https://youtu.be/HVXaZj5l0NA For more on this topic, go to: * How to Sight-Read Piano Chords Quickly - https://www.pianosightreading.com.au/sight-read-chords/ Read more on the blog: https://www.pianosightreading.com.au #sightread #sightreading #sightreadinggang ~~~ RECOMMENDED SIGHT-READING RESOURCES: ~ For beginners ~ * Piano Sight-Reading: A Fresh Approach by John Kember - https://amzn.to/2R51OZv * Sight-Reading Exercises Op.45 by Arnoldo Sartorio - https://imslp.org/wiki/Sight_Reading_Exercises%2C_Op.45_(Sartorio%2C_Arnoldo) * Gradus: Progressive Piano Repertoire in 12 Volumes by Jeff Manookian - https://imslp.org/wiki/Gradus:_Progressive_Piano_Repertoire_in_12_Volumes_(Manookian%2C_Jeff) ~ For more advanced ~ *Essential Keyboard Repertoire Vol. 1-8 - https://amzn.to/3km7POd *Essential Keyboard Etudes - https://amzn.to/2Rs7CfO * Free piano sheet music (searchable by composer, difficulty, styles, title and number of sharps or flats) - https://www.pianosightreading.com.au/free-piano-sheet-music/ ~~~ THE GEAR I USE FOR SIGHT-READING: iPad Pro 12.9" - https://geni.us/iPad-pro Stylus Pen - https://geni.us/stylus-pen Firefly Page Turner - https://geni.us/firefly ForScore App - https://forscore.co/ Yamaha CLP-635 - https://au.yamaha.com/en/products/musical_instruments/pianos/clavinova/clp-635/index.html ~~~ CONNECT WITH ME: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pianosightreading/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pianosightreading/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/piano_sight_reading/ ~~~ Disclaimer: Some of the links in this description are affiliate links which means I may get a small commission if you purchase the product I recommend but at no extra cost to you. This helps support the channel and allows me to make videos like this every week. So thanks in advance for your support!
    Basic CHORDS in Major Keys with Sharps - Sight-Reading Practice (Piano)
    YouTube Video UCjv25NHN78so-V-r-wDHtjg_IAPc4GbyMyk
    Do you struggle with sight-reading piano chords? Then use this video to practise sight-reading chords including chords in root position, first inversion chords, second inversion chords and chords with accidentals. Fingering and a few sight-reading tips are also provided. For more on this topic, go to: * How to Sight-Read Piano Chords Quickly - https://www.pianosightreading.com.au/sight-read-chords/ Read more on the blog: https://www.pianosightreading.com.au #sightread #sightreading #sightreadinggang ~~~ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Intro 00:23 - Drill 1 - Root Position Chords 01:50 - Drill 2 - First Inversion Chords 03:14 - Drill 3 - Second Inversion Chords 05:22 - Drill 4 - Chords with Accidentals ~~~ RECOMMENDED SIGHT-READING RESOURCES: ~ For beginners ~ * Piano Sight-Reading: A Fresh Approach by John Kember - https://amzn.to/2R51OZv * Sight-Reading Exercises Op.45 by Arnoldo Sartorio - https://imslp.org/wiki/Sight_Reading_Exercises%2C_Op.45_(Sartorio%2C_Arnoldo) * Gradus: Progressive Piano Repertoire in 12 Volumes by Jeff Manookian - https://imslp.org/wiki/Gradus:_Progressive_Piano_Repertoire_in_12_Volumes_(Manookian%2C_Jeff) ~ For more advanced ~ *Essential Keyboard Repertoire Vol. 1-8 - https://amzn.to/3km7POd *Essential Keyboard Etudes - https://amzn.to/2Rs7CfO * Free piano sheet music (searchable by composer, difficulty, styles, title and number of sharps or flats) - https://www.pianosightreading.com.au/free-piano-sheet-music/ ~~~ THE GEAR I USE FOR SIGHT-READING: iPad Pro 12.9" - https://geni.us/iPad-pro Stylus Pen - https://geni.us/stylus-pen Firefly Page Turner - https://geni.us/firefly ForScore App - https://forscore.co/ Yamaha CLP-635 - https://au.yamaha.com/en/products/musical_instruments/pianos/clavinova/clp-635/index.html ~~~ CONNECT WITH ME: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pianosightreading/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pianosightreading/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/piano_sight_reading/ ~~~ Disclaimer: Some of the links in this description are affiliate links which means I may get a small commission if you purchase the product I recommend but at no extra cost to you. This helps support the channel and allows me to make videos like this every week. So thanks in advance for your support!
    Basic CHORDS - Sight-Reading Practice (Piano)
    YouTube Video UCjv25NHN78so-V-r-wDHtjg_HVXaZj5l0NA
    How do you identify intervals on the staff quickly? Is there a trick to learning intervals faster? Watch this video to find out. For more on this topic, see this blog article: * How to Identify Intervals on the Staff Quickly (Worksheet Included) - https://www.pianosightreading.com.au/how-to-identify-intervals/ For interval identification drills, go to: * How to Read Intervals - Interval Identification DRILLS! - https://youtu.be/9BrXvQ9_LG8 Read more on the blog: https://www.pianosightreading.com.au #sightread #sightreading #sightreadinggang ~~~ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Intro 00:26 - What's an interval? 01:42 - Why should you read intervals? 2:15 - How to identify intervals quickly? 2:45 - Odd-numbered intervals 4:51 - Even-numbered intervals 6:46 - Which note should you look at? 7:50 - What's the best way to learn intervals? 9:40 - Outro ~~~ RECOMMENDED SIGHT-READING RESOURCES: ~ For beginners ~ * Piano Sight-Reading: A Fresh Approach by John Kember - https://amzn.to/2R51OZv * Sight-Reading Exercises Op.45 by Arnoldo Sartorio - https://imslp.org/wiki/Sight_Reading_Exercises%2C_Op.45_(Sartorio%2C_Arnoldo) * Gradus: Progressive Piano Repertoire in 12 Volumes by Jeff Manookian - https://imslp.org/wiki/Gradus:_Progressive_Piano_Repertoire_in_12_Volumes_(Manookian%2C_Jeff) ~ For more advanced ~ *Essential Keyboard Repertoire Vol. 1-8 - https://amzn.to/3km7POd *Essential Keyboard Etudes - https://amzn.to/2Rs7CfO * Free piano sheet music (searchable by composer, difficulty, styles, title and number of sharps or flats) - https://www.pianosightreading.com.au/free-piano-sheet-music/ ~~~ THE GEAR I USE FOR SIGHT-READING: iPad Pro 12.9" - https://geni.us/iPad-pro Stylus Pen - https://geni.us/stylus-pen Firefly Page Turner - https://geni.us/firefly ForScore App - https://forscore.co/ Yamaha CLP-635 - https://au.yamaha.com/en/products/musical_instruments/pianos/clavinova/clp-635/index.html ~~~ CONNECT WITH ME: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pianosightreading/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pianosightreading/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/piano_sight_reading/ ~~~ Disclaimer: Some of the links in this description are affiliate links which means I may get a small commission if you purchase the product I recommend but at no extra cost to you. This helps support the channel and allows me to make videos like this every week. So thanks in advance for your support!
    How to Identify Intervals on the Staff Quickly
    YouTube Video UCjv25NHN78so-V-r-wDHtjg_jKKTyBpVbMo
    In this video, you'll learn how to quickly identify intervals on the staff with interval identification drills. For more on this topic, see this blog article: * How to Identify Intervals on the Staff Quickly (Worksheet Included) - https://www.pianosightreading.com.au/how-to-identify-intervals/ Read more on the blog: https://www.pianosightreading.com.au #sightread #sightreading #sightreadinggang TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Explanation of the interval drills 00:12 - PART 1: Odd-numbered intervals 00:14 - Explanation of Part 1 00:42 - Drill 1: Line notes 01:16 - Drill 2: Space notes 01:50 - Drill 3: Mixed 02:59 - PART 2: Even-numbered intervals 03:01 - Explanation of Part 2 03:28 - Drill 1: Line notes at the bottom 04:02 - Drill 2: Space notes at the bottom 04:41 - Drill 3: Mixed 05:42 - PART 3: All mixed 05:44 - Explanation of Part 3 05:50 - Drill 1: Normal speed 06:24 - Drill 2: Medium speed 06:47 - Drill 3: Fast speed ~~~ RECOMMENDED SIGHT-READING RESOURCES: ~ For beginners ~ * Piano Sight-Reading: A Fresh Approach by John Kember - https://amzn.to/2R51OZv * Sight-Reading Exercises Op.45 by Arnoldo Sartorio - https://imslp.org/wiki/Sight_Reading_Exercises%2C_Op.45_(Sartorio%2C_Arnoldo) * Gradus: Progressive Piano Repertoire in 12 Volumes by Jeff Manookian - https://imslp.org/wiki/Gradus:_Progressive_Piano_Repertoire_in_12_Volumes_(Manookian%2C_Jeff) ~ For more advanced ~ *Essential Keyboard Repertoire Vol. 1-8 - https://amzn.to/3km7POd *Essential Keyboard Etudes - https://amzn.to/2Rs7CfO * Free piano sheet music (searchable by composer, difficulty, styles, title and number of sharps or flats) - https://www.pianosightreading.com.au/free-piano-sheet-music/ ~~~ THE GEAR I USE FOR SIGHT-READING: iPad Pro 12.9" - https://geni.us/iPad-pro Stylus Pen - https://geni.us/stylus-pen Firefly Page Turner - https://geni.us/firefly ForScore App - https://forscore.co/ Yamaha CLP-635 - https://au.yamaha.com/en/products/musical_instruments/pianos/clavinova/clp-635/index.html ~~~ CONNECT WITH ME: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pianosightreading/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pianosightreading/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/piano_sight_reading/ ~~~ Disclaimer: Some of the links in this description are affiliate links which means I may get a small commission if you purchase the product I recommend but at no extra cost to you. This helps support the channel and allows me to make videos like this every week. So thanks in advance for your support!
    How to Read Intervals - Interval Identification DRILLS
    YouTube Video UCjv25NHN78so-V-r-wDHtjg_9BrXvQ9_LG8
    In this video, you'll learn how to prepare for a sight-reading test, what the examiners are looking and what resources I recommend you use. Although I'm referring to and giving examples from sight-reading sample tests for AMEB piano exams, the tips and advice can be applied to any other sight-reading test as found in a Trinity, RCM or ABRSM piano exam. For more on this topic and to grab the List of Common Musical Terms, go to: * How to Prepare for a Sight-Reading Test - https://www.pianosightreading.com.au/sight-reading-test/ Read more on the blog: https://www.pianosightreading.com.au TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Intro 01:15 - What to do during the exam 06:05 - What the examiners are looking for 06:42 - The music you can expect 09:15 - How to prepare for the sight-reading test 11:02 - Other resources 12:02 - Reminder #sightread #sightreading #sightreadinggang ~~~ RECOMMENDED SIGHT-READING RESOURCES: ~ Sight-reading sample tests ~ * AMEB Piano Sight-Reading - https://geni.us/AMEB-sight-reading *Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests by the RCM - https://geni.us/sight-reading-RCM * Sound at Sight - Sight Reading for Piano by Trinity- https://geni.us/Trinity-sight-reading *ABRSM Piano Specimen Sight-Reading Tests Grades 1 - https://geni.us/ABRSM-1 ~ For beginners ~ * Piano Sight-Reading: A Fresh Approach by John Kember - https://amzn.to/2R51OZv * Sight-Reading Exercises Op.45 by Arnoldo Sartorio - https://imslp.org/wiki/Sight_Reading_Exercises%2C_Op.45_(Sartorio%2C_Arnoldo) * Gradus: Progressive Piano Repertoire in 12 Volumes by Jeff Manookian - https://imslp.org/wiki/Gradus:_Progressive_Piano_Repertoire_in_12_Volumes_(Manookian%2C_Jeff) ~ For more advanced ~ *Essential Keyboard Repertoire Vol. 1-8 - https://amzn.to/3km7POd *Essential Keyboard Etudes - https://amzn.to/2Rs7CfO * Free piano sheet music (searchable by composer, difficulty, styles, title and number of sharps or flats) - https://www.pianosightreading.com.au/free-piano-sheet-music/ ~~~ THE GEAR I USE FOR SIGHT-READING: iPad Pro 12.9" - https://geni.us/iPad-pro Stylus Pen - https://geni.us/stylus-pen Firefly Page Turner - https://geni.us/firefly ForScore App - https://forscore.co/ Yamaha CLP-635 - https://au.yamaha.com/en/products/musical_instruments/pianos/clavinova/clp-635/index.html ~~~ CONNECT WITH ME: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pianosightreading/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pianosightreading/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/piano_sight_reading/ ~~~ Disclaimer: Some of the links in this description are affiliate links which means I may get a small commission if you purchase the product I recommend but at no extra cost to you. This helps support the channel and allows me to make videos like this every week. So thanks in advance for your support!
    How to prepare for a SIGHT-READING TEST! (AMEB & equivalent)
    YouTube Video UCjv25NHN78so-V-r-wDHtjg_8Wo_H3DX1Os
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