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Re: sight reading

Author: echi85
Date: 2017-08-20 20:07

In my opinion, sight reading is a skill comparable to language. When you read a language you are fluent it, you do not look at every single letter. You see larger, familiar patterns that register instantaneously in your mind. The goal is be able to do this with music.

My suggestion would be to learn familiar patterns. Baermann Book 3, particularly the Southern Music/David Hite edition is essential. The entire book outlines the majority of patterns found in tonal music. If you practice the book enough to where the patterns become permanent, your sight reading capability will be greatly improved. The beauty of practicing this way is that at some point you don't need to do more. All of us have stopped practicing our alphabet.

The Stark Arpeggio studies would be a continuation after Baermann. Both of these books are strengthening the connection between your eye and your hands. If you have to consciously think about a note and a fingering, you do not have fluency. More practice is needed.

In addition to the notes, you need to read different rhythms I recommend etudes, particularly slow Rose etudes. The Jettel and Uhl etudes are great at this. Once you understand the pattern of rhythms, your sight reading will also be greatly improved.

Lastly, I would encourage you to read scores. You can sit down with a score and a recording at first. I find reading multiple lines in multiple clefs greatly improved my reading capability. At some point, you learn to read without your instrument.

I've had to fill in several times in the past years at the last minute because someone got injured or was ill. I remember having to read the 1st clarinet part for Tristan und Isolde on 20 minutes notice in concert. I had about 3 hours to learn the 1st clarinet part for the Nutcracker in concert. If I had not build fluency in reading music, I doubt I could have been successful in these situations.

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