How Do I Become Better At Sight Reading?

[@trumpugradguate9112]

Sight reading is ridiculously good exercise for the brain. That frustrated feeling you get as you're figuring things out means you're building new neural pathways.

[@ijustwannacommentnotmyreal9814]

TrumpU Gradguate TRUEEEEE!!

[@zz4927]

Awesome channel name

[@tr33tv]

This is encouraging! I've been playing guitar many years but only now learning to sight read. I used to get really drowsy or pull my hair when I first started but I stuck with it. Huge respect for those who can read monstrous compositions.

[@bluestarmusical4944]

and losing brain cells in the process

[@shutdahellup69420]

@@bluestarmusical4944 lmao true 😂

[@johndouglas7787]

When I was young my teacher said keep your eyes on the music and feel the keys instead of looking down at your fingers. You will develop a better sense of where you are. Also read by interval and not by individual note. See the shape of a chord and use fingering to match that shape and most importantly read chords from bottom to top. Like she said don't read note to note but read in phrases and keep looking ahead. If you are looking at the note you are playing you will get behind easily. See what is coming up and you will be able to keep going. Sight reading material should be easier than what you practice for your lesson. Many students practice too fast so don't be afraid to slow down. If you are sight reading and making mistakes......slow down. I am 63 years old and have been playing the piano since age 5, teaching private piano since age 13. Sight reading and reading music in general has always been easy for me, don't know why just is. Now memorizing...... not so easy. I was behind the door when God handed out that gift. Enjoy your channel and keep up the good work.

[@sneakysheep2135]

Thank you

[@Aerospace_Education]

Sight Reading Factory is a fantastic tool. I spend 15 minutes a day with it. It gives you a randomly generated piece (up to 24 measures). When your done you just hit the right arrow key and it gives you a brand new one. You can specify different levels. This way you play level appropriate and you can't memorize. You truly are sight reading.

[@starrchika]

im surprised that this video doesn't have more views. This is the only thing out there that makes actual sense. thank you for breaking down everything. I'm going to try everything you've suggested.

[@PianotvNet]

+Starr Hugley Thanks so much for the kind comment, and keep me posted on how it goes! :)

[@arisdelrosas7355]

Starr Hugley so, how did it go? I'm new to the channel and exploring

[@starrchika]

+Exotic Alpaca what I've done is make flash cards so I could familiarize myself with the keys I'm not good with. Because majority of the pieces that have more than 5 flats or Sharps usually give me an issue especially when sight reading period I also downloaded some music apps on my phone just so I can practice a couple times a day. When she mentioned seeing the chords is groupings rather than individual notes being played on a piano, there's a lot of truth to this. So I'm just doing one key at a time and learning to recognize each arpeggio or chord progression that pertains to that key. Cuz the biggest thing that would confuse me is melodic and harmonic changes in a key. I still can't sight-read, honestly it's an everyday process. a good part of learning the citrate is just wanting it badly enough. But you got to pinpoint exactly where your weaknesses are and then work on those weaknesses every day. This video did help me pinpoint those weaknesses. I just now got into a different song with music. I'm playing jazz piano now, so we'll see how it goes when I apply her techniques with my practicing.

[@starrchika]

+Starr Hugley sorry I know I have a lot of typos in my response. but long story short just keep practicing, and don't get discouraged if it doesn't come to you right away.

[@arisdelrosas7355]

Starr Hugley yeah, I'm sorta new to piano. I've been getting lessons for 6-7 months now, but before that I was familiar with 2 years worth of ONLY treble clef(cause of band) so I think I can read music fairly well.....until I got to piano, when I got to cords I also started seeing them from there intervals and not notes which I feel is a bad things since I'm not sight reading. the bass clef I got better over time and tempo is a big problem for me, but I know that it just takes practice, one hand at a time perhaps, and counting. Anyways, good luck as a jazz player, I'm not a big fan of jazz, but at some points it does interest me.(request a jazz song you like)

[@andrewportice4993]

I love this chick! she sounds really down to earth with a great sense of humor. And she gets right to the point.

[@Filete]

and married!

[@helenaville5939]

Can't you just appreciate her as a person without getting all sexual and creepy about her? Don't you guys watch the news???? *sigh*

[@johnnytable9217]

Helenaville he just thinks she is hot. Nothing creepy. Why are people so sensitive. Are you from America ?

[@helvete_ingres4717]

+Helenaville? Wtf about the news..? Who is watching news programming in 2018? Anyway, you sound like a prudish repressed prig with some issues who automatically associates 'sexual' with 'creepy'. **sigh** ps. she's hot. She knows it, she does her hair and makeup for every video and knows exactly how she wants to look on camera. Get over it.

[@magentuspriest]

@@Filete LMAO

[@tfpp1]

Hey PianoTV, nice job! Thank you for addressing playing without looking. Practice playing pieces you already know (memorized)...and play them without looking. Play them with your eyes closed, play them in the dark, play them blindfolded - whatever. Do this A LOT. Because no one ever mentions one of the most important aspects of sight-reading: you have to do it without looking at your hands. Step number one should really be to get comfortable with the topography of the keyboard. What does this chord "feel" like, how far does this leap "feel" like? Everybody's hands are different, so get to know how it feels to play the piano without having to look at your hands. Develop this skillset first, THEN we can talk about what you're eyes are looking at on the page.

[@Dani-ly8vh]

I've been playing the piano when I was around 5 years old. I still struggle with sight reading.

[@richhogan3163]

I love your videos! I made my kids learn piano all through school, but stopped playing myself as a learning adult by the time then notes left the staff lines. Now, I'm back as an even older adult and you are making it not torture:) Thank you!

[@PianotvNet]

Ha ha ha I'm glad it's not torture!

[@GUIDESPERSPECTIVE]

If she was my piano teacher, I would never miss a lesson. 😍

[@jimmyjamz7184]

i started learning piano 5 years ago and I was never even told about the concept of sight reading and I seriously feel like I’ve wasted my life

[@iwn-og3hw]

This is one of the clearest and most logical videos I've found yet on sight reading. Thanks!

[@mynameiscash2196]

When you made the analogy of looking at phrases like how we read words, my brain almost exploded. Thank you! You explain things so clearly!

[@__jan]

When I started 2 years ago, I made this little chart for myself- listing every note from C1 to C6, because those were the ones I was playing most commonly. I used to look into the chart every time I wanted to read a note... And from continuous usage, one day, I just realised I hadn't used the chart at all when reading a new piece! It was a great feeling, and from that point on it is natural. I find that sight-reading is the most brain-power-demanding thing to do while I'm practicing, it makes me very, very tired. I can practice a memorized piece for hours on end but I can't sight-read for more than, say, half an hour at a time. This usually really slows down my progress and it's most likely the thing that's keeping me from playing the piano all the time, and making it less enjoyable to play a new piece. Anyway, thank you for these tips.

[@kathym.5676]

Just stumbled upon your video this evening and was struck by all of your great tips! I am new to the piano. My piano teacher had me clapping today to help me recognize I had the rhythm wrong on a sonatina I am learning. Loved your idea about phrasing rather than reading individual notes and practicing with my eyes closed is helping me gain more comfort with the keys. Just hit the subscribe button and look forward to viewing more of your material. Thank you!

[@anaalejandramercedes2989]

I'm learning piano and constantly looking for videos to support my learning. Your video is exactly what I've been looking for without knowing it. Thank you so much. Tips and techniques like the one you show around 6:07 about looking for the highest and lowest note in order to calculate which finger to use is what I need so much someone to explain to me. Thank you!

[@TheBrandy7890]

This is the best video I've seen for really breaking down how get better at sight reading. Really simple and to the point. Thank you, really enjoying your videos!

[@bobbydazzler4141]

Thanks!

[@christianjeffress5312]

My piano teacher is an amazing sight reader, he can open up a new song and just start playing, it's amazing and infuriating lol

[@ne-mr2zd]

mine also and he plays some pieces fir me and than I can choose from them wich one i would like to study

[@happypiano4810]

OMG same. I spent about a week learning a piece that she blazed through half of just sight-reading it... The piece was in Gb major.

[@nasiemrichardson]

Facts

[@mikeoxmaul45]

The sheet was a paid actor

[@CatkhosruShapurrjiFurabji]

Even my piano teacher does, I wish I could sight-read like him. All he should do is look at a note and the key signature for a second, period!

[@Michsialski]

I thought I was the only person counting intervals! This video has been really helpful :)

[@PianotvNet]

+Michsialski PL Us interval-counters number in the dozens! haha, glad you liked it!

[@sergioruiz1093]

Michal when you read intervals do you know what notes you are playing? Or it's more like you know what fingers you need to use depending on the intervals?

[@helenaville5939]

I think it's more about visualisation than anything else. It's often said that to do something well it's a great idea to visualise yourself doing it first. Counting intervals helps a lot with visualisation so that when we do begin to play it's like we are physically executing something we've already performed well in our imagination. It leads to playing with way more confidence.

[@RonnocFroop]

I find the way I sigh-read pieces is a mix of seeing the notes, the intervals, the timings, and intuition. About half of it is basically checking what I've already guessed is coming up against what the music says, which makes things a lot easier. Now if only I could read more than 1 hand at once...

[@44nk96]

Great video! I have to say, there is 1 app that helped change the way I sight reading and that was staff wars. I can now SEE what the note letter is in my head instead of THINKING

[@Laz3rCat95]

4:43 I can tell that's twinkle twinkle little star even without any words

[@pericologan]

Really great and useful tips!!! Thank you very much indeed

[@funguy29]

Your beauty is unmatched

[@Strabbs12345]

Oh my god this woman is adorable!!!! Great info too! Keep up the good work lady!,

[@GarryBurgess]

I had the other problem in that I never learned to memorize the pieces I was working on because I was always sight reading them, so now I don't allow myself to look at the music, except to preview it when I can't remember it. But I don't sight read anymore when I'm practising, unless I'm practising sight reading. Now I'm finding it easier to memorize, and my pieces are much smoother. I was encouraged by the thought that there are only 52 notes, but after that, I found complex timings more difficult than the note recognition. Intervals also helps me remember the phrases.

[@no1jacko13]

I am learning the classica guitar and wanting to improve sight reading so even though this is fir piano. I can take a lot from it. The intervals and looking at a phrase of nites nit just one by one are something fir me. Many thanks. I am enjoying these videos

[@amy-lyn8531]

Thats a great idea

[@bilanggoboy]

Thank you for this! I bought the Alfred Adult piano course book you recommended (for the kindle) and it really focuses on interval recognition! Now I see (see what I did there ugh) why! Please keep the great lessons (and well edited videos) coming!

[@robertanderson1043]

Refreshing channel. Knowledgeable, experienced, honest and forthright. Served up with lots of positive energy.

[@ETLettuce]

Here's the problem with soght reading.. The 'sight' I'm visually impaired and so to read a piece of music I have to individually lool at each not with its rythym. And it might take me a couple minutes just to get down a bar or two. I try my best but sight reading is jist not a thing that I'm really capable of. (Great vid btw 💙)

[@everestpianoworld]

Thanks for the information. It really help me alot

[@Brandoncolemanofficial]

Love this video, very helpful!! So good..

[@TookMe20min2findThis]

Thank you pretty eyes :) .. I was just about to ask you why would knowing your intervals be so important but you just answered it from 8:29. So your hands needs to feel it! That's a very good tip. i do have a tendency to keep reading individual notes but as I practice I tend to get better at it.. I just never really paid attention to intervals. Thank you again for your great help.

[@designersnestm569]

One of the best advise i’ve got... thanks

[@coffeeandkeys1980]

Thank you so much. Loads of great info😁👍

[@nickharrison3748]

I am trying to develop finger memory for piano, my dream is to play the note instantly as it's on the sheet

[@facilitatecollaboration7829]

That was wonderful thanks

[@lov4music895]

Thank you Alison for you videos. They are insightful, interesting, and amussing.

[@PetulaGuimaraes]

ok, this is really, really good. as an adult beginner you just unlocked stuff for me!

[@irawri5403]

I just started out on learning piano and sight reading and wow does it overwhelm me already😂

[@44nk96]

Love your channel! I’m from Sydney but my bf is originally from Regina and has gone to L&M for years! Such a small world. Keep up the great work!

[@lei5072]

Thanks for this... 😊

[@rriehle]

Thanks! Helpful.

[@ericlol1337]

this was insightful thank you

[@DojoOfCool]

This is a really helpful video I'm at the stage I really needed it. Thanks

[@nykkie5547]

This video of yours is really helpful!! Thankyousomuch

[@vivaviiv]

Thank you very much. The video and the channel are quite helpful (it was surprisingly hard to find it though for some reason).

[@johnmcgrath8886]

Thank you - that was very informative and you are an impressive teacher!

[@carolepaul8390]

Look at the title of the song. It tells you a great deal about what you are going to play style wise. Waltz, song etc. All these other things important next. I made much of my living doing this. Carole

[@bridgetdung2863]

Wow, your videos and explanations are very helpful.

[@5966ramesh]

Thank you. Well explained

[@vahabshalchian3232]

Allysia you are an amazing teacher, thank you for the useful videos !

[@Sauhros]

Great tips!

[@peterwong8460]

Good advice

[@salt9055]

I honestly wish I had more time to play piano but school sucks up all of my time.

[@adamgulley1399]

Salt They say if you really enjoy something you make time in your day to do it,do u watch tv,play videos games,what about summer?try and eliminate something and substitute it with practicing piano

[@LinkEX]

^What Ajgthecreator said. If there's something you want to do, yet you tell yourself: "I don't have time for this"; Rephrase it to what that statement boils down to: "This has no priority to me". Can help getting more honest with yourself and in turn drive up your ambition to actually do the thing.

[@ijustwannacommentnotmyreal9814]

LinkEX Thanks♡

[@breathtoheal4524]

school feels like it takes up a lot of time because we're so tired before and afterwards. Got a few minutes in the morning? Piano. Half an hour until dinner? Piano. You'll find you actually do have a lot of time. Have fun xx.

[@MansterBear]

Especially now days with social media and phones. Imagine if you had a timer that started every time u looked at your phone. Almost everyone now days spends literally hours per day looking at their phones. I also play video games each night. I practiced piano last night but not until like 11pm. I felt like “I need more time to practice” then I thought about the fact that I played COD and Fortnite for probably 2 hours yesterday. It’s all about priorities.

[@jcccheung]

Thank you so much.

[@Fernando31611]

Hi! I am sight-reading all of Beethoven sonatas, but mixed rythims keep breaking my brain!! I am halfway through, and I am scared of what is yet to come.

[@magentuspriest]

Holy shit dude. What level are you on? Sightreading Beethoven Sonatas?

[@elliannaharmon1321]

Very helpful video!

[@sylvandelacruz]

Way awesome tips, thnx!

[@jimtessin4130]

Thank you!!!!

[@Y5986]

Nice video and perfect example with: "Horse, you don´t read letter by letter". That was a huge mistake I´m doing.

[@omg_wtf]

Great vid and great channel

[@dicosdip452]

good and sweet teaching....

[@Bobowobo]

My teacher doesn't let me look down at my hands so if I look down I start over

[@helvete_ingres4717]

well, you shouldn't look at your hands, so this is correct teaching.

[@RDMNC]

can i improve sight reading just by sight reading? For example, when i dont have the piano around

[@Erickvazquezc]

cool thanks

[@PaulFergusonblogs]

Hi, do you have any recommended apps for practicing sight reading? Thanks!

[@mbdiaries]

Thanks. That was helpful 😊

[@GORDO-HUMILDE]

thank you, this really helped me

[@Sgdota2]

Im new to learning piano what to learn first to start playing jazz music n pop music

[@PIANOSTYLE100]

All good points. I really hadn't worked with intervals. I just listen and copy. I took piano from 7th to 12th grade. I struggled with note reading . It was very hard and frustrating. I am getting much better. A little history. I struggled with the bass clef. I used all cows eat grass etc. I dropped all tha.. I now say aceg a and gbdfa.. awhile back I started to share me doing the sight reading using screen recorders. I noticed pattern like fifths, thirds...then symetry.. The D was on the third line in need in base cleff and the Ds were two spaces above and below.. Likewise the Trebble cleff with B. I called it the gift. Then there is the C's.. middle C and the c above and below two lines in the ledger area. it's nice to see the G9 gbdfa and Amin7... I stumbled across your feed .. I am working Interval..I realized recently that I hear these very poorly. Subscribing.

[@amy-lyn8531]

These are great anchors you have developed yourself in order to to recognise the notes and intervals.

[@rojo9374]

Yep same I memorise everything my teacher goes mad

[@twifanly]

i don't play piano, i play cello, but this video and your write channel was really useful! :)

[@rafaelgomez1989]

EXCELLENT !!!

[@Imkrister10]

hi allysia, you're a gift from the high heavens sent to us unworthy mortals as you bless us with your impeccable wisdom to open our eyes to the truth which is beyond the understand of our weak minds.. PS - would like to ask how does the end game of sight reading looks like. does it mean it can allow you to play very smoothly a sheet music that you only have seen for the first time? thanks a lot :)

[@PcYouJest1]

I had a piano class in high school and I enjoyed it, but I stopped. Recently, I bought myself a keyboard but I'm not sure where to buy or download sheet music (for free if possible), or any practices to get me ready for reading sheet music and practicing intervals as you've mentioned here. Do you have any app suggestions that you use, or any nice practices you've used to help yourself improve? Thanks, I would like to get back into playing piano and guitar, in order to create music for my animation studio.

[@charliemartin7694]

Same

[@CelloSeanMuller]

Go to imslp.org its a HUGE archive of any public domain piece, I highly recommend it

[@helenaville5939]

You keep recommending this site but it's not free.

[@Critique808]

Poly Kay Most music sheets are not free. You can try this free app called Free Music Flash Cards. The name says it. It's free music flash card to practice.

[@Pakkens_Backyard]

I'm actually opposite - I always just read from the sheet music and never bothered actually learning it, and never memorized anything until many years into playing. For around 10 years I didn't even know how to memorize, and I thought the best players just read everything from sheet music perfectly. Hence, I still have issues with polishing a piece and can never get anything to performance level.

[@wonga2850]

Do you have any recommendations for apps that help you practice sight reading?

[@TheAmk12345]

Useful

[@sergioruiz1093]

Hi!! You said that reading by intervals is probably more important than knowing the individual notes, but how can I read in keys with accidentals and know which notes should be sharped or flatted if I'm only reading the distances of notes?

[@marylengthways6910]

Hi! Thank you so much for this video, it was very helpful! Btw, do you have a pdf copy of the rcm piano syllabus? Everytime I try to open it online I get a page telling me that I can't. Maybe it's because I don't live in an English speaking country anymore...

[@billsutton801]

Not sure if this is true but if Liszt really played Grieg's piano concerto on sight - AWESOME!!!

[@yuverburg9204]

Do you maybe advice kind of apps for sight reading?

[@gosselka]

For anyone having trouble understanding the concept turn the music sideways and it becomes very clear.

[@bryangiblin1806]

Hi there -- I love your videos. They've been extremely helpful to me, since I'm unable to take in person lessons at the moment. Do you have any opinion about sightreading programs such as "Sight Reading Factory"? I find it difficult and time-consuming to find appropriate sight reading music, and Sight Reading Factory generates an infinite amount of custom sight reading samples. But, I'm a beginner sight reader -- beginning level 3 on Sight Reading Factory -- so I don' t know whether there are any reasons not to rely on something like Sight Reading Factory. If you are able to answer, thanks!

[@chrisa1234]

Which note reading and interval apps do you recommend? Thanks in advance :)

[@PianotvNet]

I need to check out more options, but in the past I've used the website Teoria for interval practice.

[@maverickjimenez6535]

What books do u recommend I get for sight reading

[@nickharrison3748]

Alfred basic all in one piano course level 1

[@angelob.1089]

Bartok Mikrokosmos

[@fritsvanzanten3573]

Hahaha, I see a book on the shelf that will be one 'never leaving your desk' ;-)

[@relentless_animal4127]

When I’m reading notes my eyes only focus on 1 clef and completely forget about the other one

[@stephenosei-pokufrimpong9684]

😂😂😂yh that's true

[@aku7598]

what about reciting solfege from the sheet to make more focus on the sheet rather than recalling from memory?

[@sammyapsel1443]

Hey, where would you print out random sheet music to practice sight reading?

[@PianoSightReading]

Imslp.org has a lot of music you can download for free.

[@pripri8814]

I don't know if someone else does it. I remember the tune of the song. Then next time I can play easily without sight reading. So its like not memorizing the notes but the tune

[@MyCynthia911]

How to do to not look at my hands when I try to sight-reading ? My digital keyboard (yamaha p-105 )stand is very near of the keyboard, so even if I don't want, I see my hands,

[@VeigarEUW]

whats the name of your digital piano?

[@EaglesVision999]

Hey Allysia. I need help with sheet music. I know this is the video but my problem is much more frustrating. May you please help.

[@ShaneChaffin]

Writing music also helps a lot. Think about it: would you learn English without ever writing it?

[@ChristopherAmedu]

Gusli Kokle you forget that children are educated

[@bojackbutterscotchhorseman3091]

I love you 💕❤️

[@ChopinSchubert]

Honestly, how to get better at sight reading is similar to asking how to do better at an exam. Study for an exams and sight read lots. practice sight reading until you can sight read fantasie impromptu since I bet Li Yundi can sight read that.

[@letsseewhatwecanlearn9242]

I wish you were my piano teacher

[@clayton4115]

oh wow! look at those eyes!

[@OnlineMD]

It was 30 years ago that I quit piano lessons as I was frustrated I was not getting anywhere after 4 years of lessons. I was 40 years old then. Have re-started piano/keyboard lessons with FLOWKEY just two weeks ago. This time I am NOT GIVING UP! I've tried the Mnemonics route, for instance, from the first space on the Bass Clef, trying to remember the notes on the spaces two octaves up: All Cows Eat Grass But Do Fart Afterwards....(my extension of the All Cows Eat Grass thing) 😜😆🤣 but in reality they do NOT help one bit. You have just a fraction of a second to recognize the note on the sheet (paper or on screen no difference) and play it...so thinking, hmmm, is the the Cow or the Grass? is NOT going to work! I think each person has to find their own solution. I think I'll buy some Flash Cards maybe....

[@PianoSightReading]

You're right, those mnemonics don't help much. You're much better off learning landmark notes. If you're interested, I've written about landmark notes and how to read notes in both clefs in my blog article on how to sight-read both clefs at the same time: www.pianosightreading.com.au/sight-read-both-clefs/