Hi. i just started AS Music at college and by the second lesson I can already see that without a plan i am seriously going to get left behind in class. Today we were given a piece of music a few seconds to think about and then we were expected to play it with the rest of the group as an ensemble. the problem is when it comes to reading music, i can do it quite well but i'm quite slow. Sightreading is definately not my strong point and i found myself struggling so much that i could play any of it. The entry requirements for AS music is that you have to be a gr 5 on and instrument, which i am (the recorder) but i am only grade 3 on the piano which was the only instrument they had for me to play.

So the question is, is there a special teacher or lesson you can enroll on to learn how to read music better, or is it just a matter of practise makes perfect? Although all the people on the course seem to be about grade 8 standard they are still the same age as me so I just want to get up to a good enough standard, so that i too can pick up a piece of music and play straight away without struggling too much. sorry for the essay, would appreciate any suggestions.

Make sure you take along a recorder next time!! It's bound to be easier to sight-read the music for that, then you won't feel so bad.

Well im guessing sight reading 2 lines for the piano is harder than just the one for the recorder so maybe take the recorder along.
In general what ive found with sight reading is to view the whole line of music not just the bar, so that you know whats coming next and your brain can start thinking about how you are going to play those notes. It takes some practice and getting used to, especially as most people just concentrate on the notes that they are playing, with no idea what might be coming next.
Try it out, it worked for me and i got full marks in grade 8 sight reading.

If you are really struggling reading both lines on the piano, try just playing one-handed. I intend to do that when I get thrown into playing piano at windband, it should still sound okay if you hvae a lot of other people playing/doubling your part.

Thanks for all of your advice. its really helped and I'll be trying all those different methods out. I've decided to get recorder lessons again to maintain my standard, and I'm definately going to start bringing my recorder to each lesson.

you see i had a very similar problem, however spending money on lessons is usefull ONLY for a short while becuse once they teach you the fundamentals all that is left to do is to practice and that is done by you since you now have the knolage to read. continuation of lessons will prove a waste of money as he/she can only teach you so much.

I think that for someone of about grade 5 standard there is still a lot to be gained from lessons with a good teacher.

I agree - there's an awful lot more to playing an instrument well than having the knowledge to read the music...

Sorry but I cannot agree with that statement at all. There is so much more to playing any instrument than simply acquiring a good basic technique. A good teacher will help you with so many of the finer points of playing that you cannot possibly know if you are just practising alone. Learning how to read music and how to reproduce notes is such a small part of it. This is why I have such a dread of so-called teachers offering lessons on instruments on which they themselves are self-taught or have had only a few lessons. It happens so often with the recorder and is very damaging. Even at post diploma level there is plenty that may be learnt from a good and knowledgeable teacher and performer.

And I couldn't agree more with the second statement!!! When you think you've been taught all there is to teach, then you're a car in the dark without headlights. I still have a good relationship with my ex-teacher and still get help and advice on my playing from him. When I start thinking there's nothing left to learn I'll stop playing.

This might not be very helpful but clapping through the piece first can help. I play recorder and in school music class I am often called upon to preform pieces for my class so I'm pretty lucky that sight reading is something I'm good at. Tapping out the beats with a pen is an option if you don't want people to stare at you.

Hi guys. Went to my music lesson with all of your tips including my recorder and it was really good. We played a borok piece as a group and i found it so easy because of my recorder. I went through the rhyme before i played and it was great. thanks for all the suggestion, they helped me loads.

I might be wrong, but I think that pianist18 was only referring to lessons for sight reading.

There's still help that can be given in the piano sight-reading department by a teacher that knows what he's doing! For example, playing in compound time with the emphasis in the right place/spotting at sight what shoud be cantabile/even learning what notes can safely be left out if there's little chance of getting them all in. Little tips here and there can be transfered to other similar music. And depending on what level you're at, you may still need guidance with awkward timing/triplets against quavers, etc.

But you're right; I think we assumed that the poster meant general lessons rather than just for sight-reading.

I imagined that sight reading would just be part of normal lessons, not an separate entity.

So the question is, is there a special teacher or lesson you can enroll on to learn how to read music better, or is it just a matter of practise makes perfect?

Some teachers offer separate courses in sight-reading - yes, although Sbhoa is right - sight-reading is ideally part of a normal music lesson. Practice - of the right sort - will also help a lot.

You might try to get hold of one of the self-help sight reading books.

I would recomment Alan Bullard's sight reading source book, and unless you are really fluent with two hands, I'd start with the grade 2 book. Work through it slowly, a few exercises a day, and use the system outlined at the beginning. Be patient - don't try to get through the book in a week! ; )
Move on to grade 3 when you have read successfully though bk 2.

Hope the course goes well.

Hi,
Mabye you could do some extra practise is your spare time, but start with easier tunes and progress to harder ones. That way you might find it easier.

Chocolate girl :D