Hi All,

I'm originally a clarinettist and have played since I was 9 (now 18), and have an offer to study Music at Manchester University next year, however, you're supposed to be around Grade VI on keyboard ..so I decided to take grade V at least. I've only been playing two years and am REALLY struggling with the sight-reading - two hands at once baffles me!

I know it's too late now to 'learn' to sight-read but has anyone got any tips for getting through the test in the exam without feeling disheartened?? My teacher even suggested just playing, say, the right-hand part perfect than playing all of it badly. Is that wise? I don't know what to do as it's SO frustrating because I CAN read music!

Caroline

I wouldn't think that was wise - if they want to asess your keyboard skills, you will need to play with both hands together for them to get an idea of what you can do.
However - don't beat yourself up about it - piano is your second instrument so they won't be expecting pefection.

No, that wouldn't be particularly wise. I agree that you shouldn't get too discouraged. Remember that you get some credit for other things apart from accuracy of notes. For example, even if pitch and so on is mostly wrong there would be some marks going for your timing, noticing of rests, obeying of expression marks etc. It's worth asking how your theory is. I think from Grade V or VI onwards a knowledge of the likely progression of chords is crucial, to the extent that it's possible to anticipate what's coming next. Don't panic: maximise the time you get beforehand to look over the most awkward parts of the exercise and play these with hands together. Other key points to notice are the opening and ending of the exercise, etc.

Best wishes,

LR

I find chord reading difficult, so when I was faced with my Grade 7 sight reading, which was in 7/4 time and A major, with lots of chords in the opening and closing bars, I went for strict 7-to-the-bar and A major tonality, and didn't worry too much about playing the chords correctly. I got 17/21, so I must have done OK.

Three golden rules: keep a steady pulse, show you've noticed the key signature, and get as much else right as possible.

Good luck.

That's pretty good advice, methinks! The following may NOT be , but give it a go and see what happens! If reading the notes correctly is a non-starter, try actually blanking your mind from the lines and spaces altogether. This might give you a better chance with the timing. (Damage limitation.) Look first at where to start, look at your hands to see what black notes you're supposed to be playing, and think, "I can hit as many wrong notes as I like, but I must get these ones in." Then go slowly, getting the rhythm and pulse as right as possible, and looking only at whether the pitch is going up-the-ways or down-the-ways. Try very hard to get the last note right - in fact, the last cadence if at all possible. You could practise this in the time you get at the beginning.

P.S. Give it a go at home - don't do it for the first time in the exam! But you might just find that more will be right than you think!

Lots of good advice. One other: you are usually allowed a short time (c.20 seconds) to inspect the piece before you play. Make the most of it. Key signature has already been mentioned; look also at any speed or mood markings, set your own speed by looking at the passage with quickest notes, and notice any traps in or near the last bar.

Thanks a lot every one! I've been practicing hard and all that advice is very useful - in fact stuff I;ve been told before for my clarinet all through the 8 grades!

Thanks again! And good luck to anyone else with piano (or any other instrument for that matter!) grades this week!

x x x