How to get a Distinction at ABRSM - Sight Reading

[@yikwanchen8773]

This channel is very useful, and I always play again if I wrong, Thank you for your channel! I am going to have my grade 6 piano exam 4 days later. Hope I can pass the exam.

[@MusicOnlineUK]

Thank you for your comment and good luck with your exam.

[@inamarr]

Thank you, this is very helpful! Especially the idea that you have to practise more what you are worst at! It‘s true, I just kept saying „I am so bad at sight reading, the sight reading in the exam will be my worst note etc....“ but I never really practised sight reading daily.... I will do now! I also kept correcting my mistakes before I watched your video, but you are right, that this is a double mistake, because it takes away the character of the piece and the fluency. Thanks a lot, you gave me some hope for the exam!

[@MusicOnlineUK]

Good luck and wishing you success in your exam preparation.

[@MusicOnlineUK]

More help here www.music-online.org.uk/p/sight-readingtrainer.html

[@FireFoxGaming56]

I used to fail sight reading every time (I got 10 / 21 marks once!!) but, after devoting more time to the preparation, I feel like I’ve become a much better sight reader now and scored 17 / 21 on the gr 7 sight reading test. Thanks for your guidance! :)

[@MusicOnlineUK]

Glad to hear it

[@mysweetblossom9132]

how do you sight read 😭 I have my grade 7 in a few days and got 13 in g6

[@sleepy4205]

@mysweetblossom9132howd it go

[@mauve9266]

Notes for myself 1. Get an idea of the piece as a whole e.g. rhythms, dynamics, key signature (#/b), articulation 2. Do quick micro scale in key signature 3. Play confidently if wrong do it strong 😂 4. DO NOT go back and re do mistakes ‼️

[@saywhatnow0073]

If I was an examiner, I would pass this video with a distinction.

[@MusicOnlineUK]

Thank you

[@amyl4828]

My grade 5 is in just over a month! I am always very confident about all the other elements of the exam, but sight reading always trips me up. Thank you for this video, was super helpful :)

[@MusicOnlineUK]

Good luck, by the way, more help HERE www.music-online.org.uk/p/sight-readingtrainer.html

[@bluebobaberries]

I have my grade 5 on Saturday ^^ hope you did great

[@coffeejellysupremacy1363]

I enjoy watching these videos because they help me for my sight reading and aural which are the hardest for me. I think that this has made me improve my exam results and I hope to get a distinction on my next exams! Thank you very much. Also, I have seen other people tell me not to look at my hands when sight-reading, do you have any thoughts on this? Thanks!

[@MusicOnlineUK]

I absolutely agree about the not looking at hands thing - and since this video I have recently published a series to help students get out of this habit called "Piano Geography" kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXqoipV7e8tpibM

[@coffeejellysupremacy1363]

Thank you very much for the useful information

[@rockychieng88]

i am average sight reader, for guitar especially, i always get 50-60 percent right, however my rhythm are correct.

[@MusicOnlineUK]

Question, do you tend to look at your hands when playing?

[@rockychieng88]

@@MusicOnlineUK i figured the melody in my head, and i just play them. but I don't know whether my melody is correct or not and I just play.

[@MusicOnlineUK]

@@rockychieng88 It already sounds like you have a very good approach to Sight Reading, that is, trying to hear the melody in your head before you play it. that helps a lot with the fluency and as I said in the video this is one of the main things the examiner will be looking out for.

[@rockychieng88]

@@MusicOnlineUK I'll improvise some when I sight read. Means half sight reading and half improvise. That's my melody are half correct. I have trouble with my viola due reading in Alto Clef.

[@ashleigheio3175]

grade 2 tomorrow! i'm nervous but excited! sight reading is my worst, but i'll give it a go!!

[@MusicOnlineUK]

Good luck and let me know how you get on.

[@ashleigheio3175]

@@MusicOnlineUK i got on really well actually!!

[@MusicOnlineUK]

@@ashleigheio3175 Good to hear that. Hope something on my channel was able to contribute to your success.

[@PedroGometz]

I'm currently preparing for Grade 1. Looking at the books of specimen pieces, it looks like there's a quite a significant element of luck in whether you get an easy one or a hard one. Some are C major, left hand, then right hand and fairly predictable. Then, you get some that are in other keys, swap back and forth between hands (so you need to prepare for which finger the later parts will start on), throw in some extra sharpened notes and have far less obvious rhythms/melodies.

[@MusicOnlineUK]

To be adequately prepared you should consider my book "sight reading trainer", which is more than just specimen test but a method to get you to sight read better in general. www.music-online.org.uk/2020/06/new-sight-reading-trainer-from.html

[@Ddeon-fp9pd]

Hi I am awful at sight reading especially I play very slow coz I can’t read the notes that fast .... someone help me thanks

[@MusicOnlineUK]

First of all it's better to play slower without hesitation than to try and go fast with lots of stopping. Secondly try and get into the habit of not looking at your hands. My piano geography series might help there.

[@MusicOnlineUK]

More help here www.music-online.org.uk/p/sight-readingtrainer.html

[@lola6993]

Thank you it was very helpful

[@MusicOnlineUK]

You're most welcome.

[@claire8602]

I have my exam in a day!!!!! 😭😭😭

[@MusicOnlineUK]

Good luck

[@bluebobaberries]

Same

[@lilyli814]

I have mine tomorrow 😬

[@antonolo4670]

Same lmao

[@huifangfu4362]

I already did grade six I’m going to maybe do grade seven soon so this is helpful for me

[@MusicOnlineUK]

Thanks for your comment, I'm glad you found it helpful. Can I ask, (I'm investigating a theory on things that hinder good sight reading), do you find you look at your hands often when playing?

[@huifangfu4362]

Yes I do most of the time

[@MusicOnlineUK]

May I suggest my new Piano Geography series, designed to help pianists NOT look at their hands Piano Geography: kzbin.info/aero/PLRhVgcglVQ9kwEp6sz7gtYmHVdIv-ankl

[@nordar.]

Hey, this comment is just shy of 4 years late, but I have my grade 4 exam in 3 weeks and I do not know wether I can sight-read or not. How many bars of a piece should I be ideally able to play on the exam? I would be thatnful if you helped!

[@huabin7041]

I am pretty bad at sight reading but this video helped me a lot Thx 😊

[@MusicOnlineUK]

Glad it helped!

[@MusicOnlineUK]

More help here www.music-online.org.uk/p/sight-readingtrainer.html

[@andreovski80]

Thank you for the great work with your channel! Just one little question: apart from the abrsm sight reading book, what other books do you recommend and use with your students to practice sight reading for the exam- grade 1?

[@MusicOnlineUK]

Hi, thanks for your comment. Actually, since this video was published I have developed my own Sight Reading Trainer Book based on the principles in this video. Full details on my website here www.music-online.org.uk/p/sight-readingtrainer.html

[@dylanplaying8550]

I have a lot of pressure because I only have 2 months to do everything in grade 8 and I haven't even finished my 3rd piece yet! :( :( :( :( :( :(

[@MusicOnlineUK]

I hope this channel will make things a little easier for you. Please ask if you have any specific requests and maybe you might find our MusicOnline UK community whatsapp group helpful also.

[@naysacarceller9496]

Did you pass ??

[@aahanajain7180]

I've got my piano grade 8 tomorrow, how can do chords at cadence points

[@MusicOnlineUK]

If you are referring to the aural tests I have a video on this. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qF7Liamcesx7rtk

[@misslaf88]

Your channel is very helpful. I'm glad I got to see this video. Just a quick question what is in the piano specimen sight reading test? Is it needed for the exam?

[@MusicOnlineUK]

Thanks for your kind words. The Specimen Sight Reading Book is only examples of what it will be like in the exam, but the actual tests in the exam will be different to those found in the book.

[@misslaf88]

@@MusicOnlineUK Thank you. I am currently in the middle of reading your book. It is very good.

[@RaspberryMalina190817]

sight reading has always been my worst section hahaha, this was a very helpful video!

[@MusicOnlineUK]

Glad it was helpful!

[@becca4582]

my grade 2 exam is in an hour. wish me luck :)

[@MusicOnlineUK]

Good luck enjoy the music and forget about the notes

[@cecilia3591]

Bro, I have a Grade 8 one. LOL

[@becca4582]

@@cecilia3591 good luck!!

[@albertosparrows.6065]

Is the piece on the sight-reading exam one of those included in the specimen book? Many thanks

[@MusicOnlineUK]

No unfortunately, they are just examples of the TYPE of test you might get.

[@everythingart7566]

Sometimes when I make a mistake the playing will slowly dissolve and I’ll play every note wrong till I stop for a moment, I’m not sure how to fix that 😅

[@MusicOnlineUK]

Play slowly first to develop muscle memory.

[@clarayau8485]

0:01 is exactly me but tomorrow is the day so yeah I tried doing 1 bar but failed badly and if I don’t get distinction………. My parents…… well yeah so thanks for the information😊😊😊😊😊😊❤❤❤❤❤❤😅😅😅😅😅

[@jennylf1]

Does anyone know of any good resources for piano sight reading? I feel like the books ABRSM produce don't have nearly enough examples! Perhaps an iPad app or something 🤔

[@MusicOnlineUK]

www.music-online.org.uk/p/sight-readingtrainer.html HERE you go

[@spaghettimeatball6404]

mine is in 3 hours, wish me luck!!

[@MusicOnlineUK]

Good luck. Let me know how you get on.

[@spaghettimeatball6404]

Thanks! absolutely dreading this exam, especially sight reading

[@Anonymous-re9fd]

zoie LI how was it?

[@3ylulxy]

I started today and there is thirty-two days till my test! :( :( May god help of all of us!!! ;(

[@MusicOnlineUK]

I hope you will find this channel useful in your preparation. Please let me know if there is any advice you need. You may also find our MusicOnline UK WhatsApp community useful

[@rockychieng88]

I am also viola taking grade 3. Still quite poor.

[@mysweetblossom9132]

I just can’t read the rhythms like how do I count especially with dotted notes 😭

[@MusicOnlineUK]

Try this playlist where you can play along kzbin.info/aero/PLRhVgcglVQ9mHOMcWhkDQRywx2F_rmWFU

[@SungJin-Woo-vg6fk]

What if I play a note wrong and find it hard to continue playing the other notes correctly without stopping ?

[@MusicOnlineUK]

Always put the rhythm/pulse before pitch accuracy.

[@sophia_g3507]

If I don’t play anything in sight reading at all, do okay at aural and amazing at the pieces, will I pass?

[@MusicOnlineUK]

If you play nothing you will lose 21 marks, so it's possible to pass, BUT if you have a go even if everything is wrong you get 7 marks out of the 21 for trying.

[@sophia_g3507]

What if you just play one hand?

[@tiffanythegoat]

I know this comment is very late. I have my Grade 7 exam in just over a month, and I’m a very bad sight-reader. I’ve tried to do many things to help my sight-reading because when it comes to exams, sight-reading is always a struggle and holds back my grade. I’ve tried going back grades to get better but that still isn’t working. The amount to play for Grade 7 is also daunting. I know I’ve got a fair bit time but I’m kind of in a frenzy. Do you have any advice to get better at Grade 7 sight-reading?

[@MusicOnlineUK]

Try my sight reading trainer www.music-online.org.uk/p/sight-readingtrainer.html?m=1

[@jenniferlin8659]

If during the sight reading exam, if I played most notes wrong but rhythm and speed is ok. Will I failed in the sight reading?

[@MusicOnlineUK]

It depends how many wrong notes. You would get some credit for rhythm and continuity, but with "mostly" wrong notes it would be unlikely to pass. Also to consider is the musical details and playing with conviction - unlikely to be observed if your struggling with notes.

[@jenniferlin8659]

@@MusicOnlineUK I still trying my best to pass but it seems l play slow for the sight reading as l trying to find the correct notes with the rhythm and tempo..

[@MusicOnlineUK]

@@jenniferlin8659 I would put continuity ahead of speed, better to play without hesitation too slowly than fast with gaps. What also may help is trying to NOT look at your hands, maybe my recent "Piano Geography" series could help there.

[@jenniferlin8659]

@@MusicOnlineUK ok thank you. Am trying to not look at my fingers for notes but tend to play alot wrong notes.

[@MusicOnlineUK]

@@jenniferlin8659 kzbin.info/aero/PLRhVgcglVQ9kwEp6sz7gtYmHVdIv-ankl

[@bluebobaberries]

I cannot use specimen books because I play Harp and there are no specimen books in that TwT why ABRSMMMM

[@MusicOnlineUK]

Specimen books have limited use. Simply playing any unseen music has the same outcome, using the principles I mentioned in this video.

[@mauve9266]

I’m horrendous with rhythms. How do I combat this?

[@MusicOnlineUK]

Try "Sight Reading Trainer" it's more than just sight reading tests but a course complete with "play along audio files" and other exercises to help your sight reading in general and specifically rhythm / pulse www.music-online.org.uk/p/sight-readingtrainer.html

[@mauve9266]

MusicOnline UK thanks I’ll check it out

[@giantpinecone1016]

Grade 2 exam in an hour! Yaaaay!

[@MusicOnlineUK]

How did it go?

[@giantpinecone1016]

@@MusicOnlineUK Funnily enough after watching this video I failed sight reading really badly but other than that is was ok I guess.

[@MusicOnlineUK]

@@giantpinecone1016 Is sight reading something you practised regularly?

[@giantpinecone1016]

@@MusicOnlineUK Yes, I am also usually the best at it of all my aural exams.

[@sophia_g3507]

glen gym did you pass the exam?

[@kinorspielmann4649]

Your mini book on ABRSM distinction is valuable, thank you. But it needs proof-reading. Several typos in the introduction and worst of all the last page title reads APPRASIAL SERVICE! No distinction here! Musicians need to be writers too!

[@musicalsam1]

If you eat to live, live to eat.

[@李思飒]

I have a test in 5 days time. 😁

[@MusicOnlineUK]

Good luck

[@angiemarie220]

Um my test is tmr and im dying

[@MusicOnlineUK]

Good luck - the main thing in sight reading is to keep going, try and keep a steady beat even at the expense of a couple of notes going astray.

[@Emmanjoshual]

I actually practice sight reading the most😂

[@MusicOnlineUK]

Well done, a good habit

[@Emmanjoshual]

@@MusicOnlineUK hi music online , I finished grade 7 Abrsm exam! I’ve so relived

[@seng111dao3]

Aiko49

[@seng111dao3]

Aitdn237

[@anyone4631]

Great video but please speak louder

[@MusicOnlineUK]

Thanks for your feedback.