How should I teach myself sight-reading?

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How would I go about teaching myself how to sight read for piano, should I practice out of a sight reading book? Or should I take a piece of music with a lower grade level (such as Bach) and sight read that?










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    up vote
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    How would I go about teaching myself how to sight read for piano, should I practice out of a sight reading book? Or should I take a piece of music with a lower grade level (such as Bach) and sight read that?










    share|improve this question

























      up vote
      1
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      1
      down vote

      favorite











      How would I go about teaching myself how to sight read for piano, should I practice out of a sight reading book? Or should I take a piece of music with a lower grade level (such as Bach) and sight read that?










      share|improve this question















      How would I go about teaching myself how to sight read for piano, should I practice out of a sight reading book? Or should I take a piece of music with a lower grade level (such as Bach) and sight read that?







      piano sheet-music sight-reading






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      edited 5 hours ago

























      asked 5 hours ago









      VibrantWavE

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          4 Answers
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          The important thing is that you choose music which is technically simple enough to fully comprehend immediately. This means music that would otherwise be well below your level. Bach is quite complex, and is hard for even advanced players to sight read. I don't know where this idea that Bach is simple came from, and it's seriously misleading.



          Look into music of the Classical and early Romantic periods, such as Clementi, Haydn, some Mozart, and portions of Beethoven (his sonatas #19 and #20 are very easy, and there are easy movements of most of the rest).






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            up vote
            2
            down vote













            I taught myself to sight-read music by remembering the whole process of how I learned to read out of books in school. I started with simple words that I already knew and understood and worked on recognition of those words on sight and using those words in phrases that made sense. After working on it for awhile, I could see the word and hear that word being said in my brain. It's much the same experience for me when I learned to sight read. I practice reading until recognition becomes automatic and I can hear the sound of the note in my brain. Just like learning songs, the process is slow at first and tests one's patience, but then the pace usually picks up and soon enough reading becomes easier. After a while you might even be able to know how a song goes without ever actually hearing it anywhere except in your head. I am a pretty good sight reader now but I still work on it because there are things I don't recognize as easily as others, and I'd like more speed and fluidity. Also I combine my sight reading with practicing scales and melodic patterns and it goes a long way towards tying everything together for me.






            share|improve this answer





























              up vote
              1
              down vote













              I think it's actually quite unimportant how you learn sight-reading, what is important is that you do it – practice frequently! So, use whatever music you like to play, which adds incentive for that.



              Once you have the basics right you should also make sure to get acquainted with unusual key signatures or whatever that may not be found in the music you'd choose to listen.



              Bach is definitely a good source.






              share|improve this answer



























                up vote
                0
                down vote













                For what it's worth, I'm pretty sure it's not very easy to teach oneself to sightread. I use many, many strategies with students, very few of which would work with an individual who was a beginner, alone.



                There are many aspects to learning how to sightread, and for me, the most important is - find a teacher!






                share|improve this answer




















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                  4 Answers
                  4






                  active

                  oldest

                  votes








                  4 Answers
                  4






                  active

                  oldest

                  votes









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                  oldest

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                  active

                  oldest

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                  up vote
                  1
                  down vote



                  accepted










                  The important thing is that you choose music which is technically simple enough to fully comprehend immediately. This means music that would otherwise be well below your level. Bach is quite complex, and is hard for even advanced players to sight read. I don't know where this idea that Bach is simple came from, and it's seriously misleading.



                  Look into music of the Classical and early Romantic periods, such as Clementi, Haydn, some Mozart, and portions of Beethoven (his sonatas #19 and #20 are very easy, and there are easy movements of most of the rest).






                  share|improve this answer
























                    up vote
                    1
                    down vote



                    accepted










                    The important thing is that you choose music which is technically simple enough to fully comprehend immediately. This means music that would otherwise be well below your level. Bach is quite complex, and is hard for even advanced players to sight read. I don't know where this idea that Bach is simple came from, and it's seriously misleading.



                    Look into music of the Classical and early Romantic periods, such as Clementi, Haydn, some Mozart, and portions of Beethoven (his sonatas #19 and #20 are very easy, and there are easy movements of most of the rest).






                    share|improve this answer






















                      up vote
                      1
                      down vote



                      accepted







                      up vote
                      1
                      down vote



                      accepted






                      The important thing is that you choose music which is technically simple enough to fully comprehend immediately. This means music that would otherwise be well below your level. Bach is quite complex, and is hard for even advanced players to sight read. I don't know where this idea that Bach is simple came from, and it's seriously misleading.



                      Look into music of the Classical and early Romantic periods, such as Clementi, Haydn, some Mozart, and portions of Beethoven (his sonatas #19 and #20 are very easy, and there are easy movements of most of the rest).






                      share|improve this answer












                      The important thing is that you choose music which is technically simple enough to fully comprehend immediately. This means music that would otherwise be well below your level. Bach is quite complex, and is hard for even advanced players to sight read. I don't know where this idea that Bach is simple came from, and it's seriously misleading.



                      Look into music of the Classical and early Romantic periods, such as Clementi, Haydn, some Mozart, and portions of Beethoven (his sonatas #19 and #20 are very easy, and there are easy movements of most of the rest).







                      share|improve this answer












                      share|improve this answer



                      share|improve this answer










                      answered 4 hours ago









                      MattPutnam

                      13.1k22551




                      13.1k22551




















                          up vote
                          2
                          down vote













                          I taught myself to sight-read music by remembering the whole process of how I learned to read out of books in school. I started with simple words that I already knew and understood and worked on recognition of those words on sight and using those words in phrases that made sense. After working on it for awhile, I could see the word and hear that word being said in my brain. It's much the same experience for me when I learned to sight read. I practice reading until recognition becomes automatic and I can hear the sound of the note in my brain. Just like learning songs, the process is slow at first and tests one's patience, but then the pace usually picks up and soon enough reading becomes easier. After a while you might even be able to know how a song goes without ever actually hearing it anywhere except in your head. I am a pretty good sight reader now but I still work on it because there are things I don't recognize as easily as others, and I'd like more speed and fluidity. Also I combine my sight reading with practicing scales and melodic patterns and it goes a long way towards tying everything together for me.






                          share|improve this answer


























                            up vote
                            2
                            down vote













                            I taught myself to sight-read music by remembering the whole process of how I learned to read out of books in school. I started with simple words that I already knew and understood and worked on recognition of those words on sight and using those words in phrases that made sense. After working on it for awhile, I could see the word and hear that word being said in my brain. It's much the same experience for me when I learned to sight read. I practice reading until recognition becomes automatic and I can hear the sound of the note in my brain. Just like learning songs, the process is slow at first and tests one's patience, but then the pace usually picks up and soon enough reading becomes easier. After a while you might even be able to know how a song goes without ever actually hearing it anywhere except in your head. I am a pretty good sight reader now but I still work on it because there are things I don't recognize as easily as others, and I'd like more speed and fluidity. Also I combine my sight reading with practicing scales and melodic patterns and it goes a long way towards tying everything together for me.






                            share|improve this answer
























                              up vote
                              2
                              down vote










                              up vote
                              2
                              down vote









                              I taught myself to sight-read music by remembering the whole process of how I learned to read out of books in school. I started with simple words that I already knew and understood and worked on recognition of those words on sight and using those words in phrases that made sense. After working on it for awhile, I could see the word and hear that word being said in my brain. It's much the same experience for me when I learned to sight read. I practice reading until recognition becomes automatic and I can hear the sound of the note in my brain. Just like learning songs, the process is slow at first and tests one's patience, but then the pace usually picks up and soon enough reading becomes easier. After a while you might even be able to know how a song goes without ever actually hearing it anywhere except in your head. I am a pretty good sight reader now but I still work on it because there are things I don't recognize as easily as others, and I'd like more speed and fluidity. Also I combine my sight reading with practicing scales and melodic patterns and it goes a long way towards tying everything together for me.






                              share|improve this answer














                              I taught myself to sight-read music by remembering the whole process of how I learned to read out of books in school. I started with simple words that I already knew and understood and worked on recognition of those words on sight and using those words in phrases that made sense. After working on it for awhile, I could see the word and hear that word being said in my brain. It's much the same experience for me when I learned to sight read. I practice reading until recognition becomes automatic and I can hear the sound of the note in my brain. Just like learning songs, the process is slow at first and tests one's patience, but then the pace usually picks up and soon enough reading becomes easier. After a while you might even be able to know how a song goes without ever actually hearing it anywhere except in your head. I am a pretty good sight reader now but I still work on it because there are things I don't recognize as easily as others, and I'd like more speed and fluidity. Also I combine my sight reading with practicing scales and melodic patterns and it goes a long way towards tying everything together for me.







                              share|improve this answer














                              share|improve this answer



                              share|improve this answer








                              edited 3 hours ago

























                              answered 3 hours ago









                              skinny peacock

                              1,5022318




                              1,5022318




















                                  up vote
                                  1
                                  down vote













                                  I think it's actually quite unimportant how you learn sight-reading, what is important is that you do it – practice frequently! So, use whatever music you like to play, which adds incentive for that.



                                  Once you have the basics right you should also make sure to get acquainted with unusual key signatures or whatever that may not be found in the music you'd choose to listen.



                                  Bach is definitely a good source.






                                  share|improve this answer
























                                    up vote
                                    1
                                    down vote













                                    I think it's actually quite unimportant how you learn sight-reading, what is important is that you do it – practice frequently! So, use whatever music you like to play, which adds incentive for that.



                                    Once you have the basics right you should also make sure to get acquainted with unusual key signatures or whatever that may not be found in the music you'd choose to listen.



                                    Bach is definitely a good source.






                                    share|improve this answer






















                                      up vote
                                      1
                                      down vote










                                      up vote
                                      1
                                      down vote









                                      I think it's actually quite unimportant how you learn sight-reading, what is important is that you do it – practice frequently! So, use whatever music you like to play, which adds incentive for that.



                                      Once you have the basics right you should also make sure to get acquainted with unusual key signatures or whatever that may not be found in the music you'd choose to listen.



                                      Bach is definitely a good source.






                                      share|improve this answer












                                      I think it's actually quite unimportant how you learn sight-reading, what is important is that you do it – practice frequently! So, use whatever music you like to play, which adds incentive for that.



                                      Once you have the basics right you should also make sure to get acquainted with unusual key signatures or whatever that may not be found in the music you'd choose to listen.



                                      Bach is definitely a good source.







                                      share|improve this answer












                                      share|improve this answer



                                      share|improve this answer










                                      answered 4 hours ago









                                      leftaroundabout

                                      17.7k3080




                                      17.7k3080




















                                          up vote
                                          0
                                          down vote













                                          For what it's worth, I'm pretty sure it's not very easy to teach oneself to sightread. I use many, many strategies with students, very few of which would work with an individual who was a beginner, alone.



                                          There are many aspects to learning how to sightread, and for me, the most important is - find a teacher!






                                          share|improve this answer
























                                            up vote
                                            0
                                            down vote













                                            For what it's worth, I'm pretty sure it's not very easy to teach oneself to sightread. I use many, many strategies with students, very few of which would work with an individual who was a beginner, alone.



                                            There are many aspects to learning how to sightread, and for me, the most important is - find a teacher!






                                            share|improve this answer






















                                              up vote
                                              0
                                              down vote










                                              up vote
                                              0
                                              down vote









                                              For what it's worth, I'm pretty sure it's not very easy to teach oneself to sightread. I use many, many strategies with students, very few of which would work with an individual who was a beginner, alone.



                                              There are many aspects to learning how to sightread, and for me, the most important is - find a teacher!






                                              share|improve this answer












                                              For what it's worth, I'm pretty sure it's not very easy to teach oneself to sightread. I use many, many strategies with students, very few of which would work with an individual who was a beginner, alone.



                                              There are many aspects to learning how to sightread, and for me, the most important is - find a teacher!







                                              share|improve this answer












                                              share|improve this answer



                                              share|improve this answer










                                              answered 4 hours ago









                                              Tim

                                              91.2k1094230




                                              91.2k1094230



























                                                   

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