Six Tips to Improve Your Sight Reading
Usually on the blog, I write about whatever has lately been catching my interest as a player and a teacher. But recently I had a reader (I am continually surprised to discover I actually have readers!) write in with a request. She wanted to know about sight reading: how could she improve?
Initially, I buried the suggestion deep in my “later” pile. After all, who was I to talk about sight reading? Sight reading has been my bugbear throughout my life as a musician. In my first years of lessons, I used to make sure to get my teacher to play through whatever piece I was supposed to learn so I wouldn’t have to actually read it. I’ve wildly improved since then, but I still take care to be as rigorously prepared as possible- preparation being the secret weapon of the weak reader.
Then I figured: Who better to offer tips than someone who has struggled- and improved?
The truth is that poor sight reading is a vicious cycle: If you are not a good sight reader, you tend to avoid sight reading- which makes you a yet weaker sight reader. And on and on.
So the first step in improving your sight reading is simple:
Do It!
You must practice sight reading in order to improve at sight reading. And you must practice it regularly, ideally every time you pick up the instrument. Set aside 10-15 daily minutes of dedicated reading time and you WILL see improvement over time. Even if you read no further down this tip list, this is the thing to try.
Orient
Before you start reading a piece, take a moment to orient yourself. What is the key signature? Time signature? Are there any difficult passages to note in advance? Are there repeats, or first and second endings? It will help to get the lay of the land before you plunge in.
Start Right
Each time you begin to play, count a full measure in your head first, inhaling in time the beat prior to your first note. Even more important, make this starting process a habit- something you do each and every time you pick up a piece.
Rhythm
For many struggling sight readers, reading rhythm is a big part of the problem. If rhythm is difficult for you, make a practice of reading the rhythm of a piece first, before you start, by speaking or clapping to the beat. This will allow you to improve your rhythmic accuracy without the distraction of having to move your fingers and vary articulations. You can also practice rhythm away from the music with flashcards, a rhythm reading book, etc. Use a metronome to help you keep a pulse.
Find the Weak Points
Sight reading is not a monolith- rather, it is made up of many different subskills that must be practiced separately. Practicing in one clef is not going to make you a whiz at rest; practicing in one time signature won’t necessarily help you in another. Figure out where your weak points are. Is it sight reading with a whole note beat? Sight reading up the octave? Sight reading in sharp keys? Tailor your reading practice accordingly.
Ensemble Skills
When recorder players tell me they are weak sight readers, they often mean that they have trouble keeping up in a group. Reading as part of an ensemble is very different than reading on your own, and requires practicing several additional skills.
First, practice keeping going in tempo after you make a mistake. If you allow a mistake to derail you rhythmically in a group, you’ll be lost. But if you err and pick back up in tempo, you’ll still be with the group. This is a skill- so it must be practiced!
Second, get used to reading while hearing the auditory input of other parts. This can be a real adjustment- and is one reason players new to group playing struggle. Simulate playing with a group at home by playing along to a recording, or even just listening to a recording while following your part in the score.
If you get off, treat it as opportunity to practice my very favorite ensemble skill, hopping back in! This is seriously the most valuable reading skill there is, and every mistake is an opportunity to practice!
Happy reading- you CAN improve. I’m proof.