Hi all!

I am supposed to be sitting the DipABRSM this December (god knows if I'll pass!) but since garde 8 a few years ago I havn't kept up my sight reading as I should have and have slipped back considerably, I have been sightreading out of general books lying around but need so more focus.

Does anyone have any tips, recommended books, (I was going to buy romantic pieces for grade 6 standard as a start) to sightread from, or any otehr comments??

Thanks. Katie xxx

well most people ive spoken to have said that the quick study is usually modern, so try and start from the russian guys, ie tchaikovksy, rimsky korsakov glinka mussorgsky, and go into modern stuff ie rachmaninov and prokofiev, stravinsky etc. Also, quick study is a bit of a different thing to sight reading. Sight reading you have minimal time to grasp the notes and they key mainly.

In quick study you really have to "learn" the piece. Ok so technique doesnt have to be perfect, but you have to note the character of the piece, articulation, phrasing and the overall shape. This is really quite important!

oh and welcome to the forums. im scott

'Tis a perennial favourite this question!
Katie, you're doing the right thing to start looking for study aids now - the quick study strikes fear into all our hearts ! If you use the forum search function and use "quick study" for just the Diploma forum, there's lots of discussion on this topic - you should find lots of ideas.
Might help though if you tell us which instrument - to be fair I think a lot of what we've discussed is very piano-centric.
If it is piano, then as Scott says, the modern stuff is useful for looking at something a bit different.


All the best with your Dip preparation, hope you find the forums helpful as you work towards December - there's plenty of experience to be shared.

Hiya Scott, thanks, that's very helpful! Will look for some books soon, do you have any otehr tips about the quick study? i.e. where do you start? should u play it through an entire time in your 5 minutes (I believe it's 5) or just focus in on problem bars?

umm sometimes it depends on personal preference i think. I usually make a hash of it. But what i try to do is look at the opening line or so and get 2 know it. Then look through the piece and see if any of it is the same. Then just have a look through the contrasting sections if there are any and get to know the areas around that section so that its not a shock when you come to it.

Finally i look at any markings on the piece, thte composer and title, and try to get an impression in my head of what i want it to sound like.

I gather your talkin about piano?

Actually, there's no hint of what instrument you're doing it in (which could help us to help you) and we don't know you on here either. (unless it's always piano unless otherwise stated ). Ensemble playing is really good for sight-reading, though that's not much help in the short term. Getting grade 6 pieces you haven't done is one way. I think whatever instrument it is it helps to get scales and arpeggios totally learned, as most pieces have a lot of scale fragments. It's a case of not because I have to but because it will help.

If it's piano you're after the "Spectrum" series (ABRSM publishing) is often recommended as music in a similar style to the quick study pieces. The AB's Romantic sketchbooks are also often recommended. Look at some grade 7 pieces too before the exam so the actual quick study seems easier.

Remember when you're playing the pieces that you really do have to 'play' them, not just survive them. They must be well played and stylistically interpreted in order to pass so try to practise this as you go. Good luck .

Heya! Sorry yes it is piano, forgot to say! Thanks they've all been very helpful, think I will try the spectrum ones and then go from there xxx