Full Version: Sight Reading
For a given grade, is there an easy rule of thumb as to how difficult the sight reading is for it? I seem to remember being told you should be able to sight read pieces from 2 grades below where you are, but is that the level that is actually in the grade exam? My son has just skipped a piano grade and I'm wondering if his sight reading is going to be up to it.
To test this you could just get the ABRSM purple sight reading book as it has lots of little pieces that are for the sightreading level of that particular grade. Though, usually many people (like me 
) are only just or not really up to this standard, though it usually depends on experience and how many other pieces you usually play... I think (and i'm probably wrong...) that the level should be about 3 grades below? All I know is that at Dip its meant to be grade 6 standard so I'm presuming that at Grade 8 its grade 5... 
) are only just or not really up to this standard, though it usually depends on experience and how many other pieces you usually play... I think (and i'm probably wrong...) that the level should be about 3 grades below? All I know is that at Dip its meant to be grade 6 standard so I'm presuming that at Grade 8 its grade 5...
Thanks. Yes, I will get a book. I was just thinking he might need the easier grade book to start on but I didn't want to waste my money. Of course the moment I do buy a book, I expect his teacher will too, but so far he says he doesn't really do sight reading with his new teacher (new since Sept).
If it's 3 grades easier, then we might stand a chance of getting it together by March (but even that will take a bit of work I think). Does anyone know for sure - is grade 5 sight reading about grade 2 level?
If it's 3 grades easier, then we might stand a chance of getting it together by March (but even that will take a bit of work I think). Does anyone know for sure - is grade 5 sight reading about grade 2 level?
QUOTE(crazy_purple_piano_freak @ Jan 23 2006, 08:03 PM) 
To test this you could just get the ABRSM purple sight reading book as it has lots of little pieces that are for the sightreading level of that particular grade. Though, usually many people (like me
) are only just or not really up to this standard, though it usually depends on experience and how many other pieces you usually play... I think (and i'm probably wrong...) that the level should be about 3 grades below? All I know is that at Dip its meant to be grade 6 standard so I'm presuming that at Grade 8 its grade 5... I'm not supposed to use the purple specimen tests book because that is what my teacher uses to test me in lessons...
QUOTE(unmusicalmum @ Jan 23 2006, 08:24 PM)
Of course the moment I do buy a book, I expect his teacher will too, but so far he says he doesn't really do sight reading with his new teacher (new since Sept).
That might be worth checking up on. Sight-reading is very easy to fall behind on (trust me), and teachers shouldn't neglect it even though it's not the most 'fun' thing.
QUOTE(sbhoa @ Jan 23 2006, 08:26 PM)
I'm not supposed to use the purple specimen tests book because that is what my teacher uses to test me in lessons...
What do you use then? I need more G8 sight-reading material as its no longer 'fresh' for me. My teacher tested me on one the other day (which he rarely does) and I played nearly perfectly, not because I'm good but because I'm starting to know the piece!
QUOTE(unmusicalmum @ Jan 23 2006, 07:53 PM)
For a given grade, is there an easy rule of thumb as to how difficult the sight reading is for it? I seem to remember being told you should be able to sight read pieces from 2 grades below where you are, but is that the level that is actually in the grade exam? My son has just skipped a piano grade and I'm wondering if his sight reading is going to be up to it.
It would be a good idea for your son to work through a sight-reading book for the grade he is skipping. As well as the ABRSM book mentioned above - there are several books available - Improve your Sight-reading, Perfect your sight-reading, Sight-reading for fun - one book per grade. It is better to improve sight-reading by starting with exercises that are easy and gradually increase in difficulty than start with a higher grade and struggle a bit. Perhaps you could ask his new teacher are there any books s/he would recommend for sight-reading practice.
I think grade 5 sight-reading is a bit more difficult than grade 2.
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.