How to Practice Sight Reading? ~A Step-by-Step Guide

In this video, I'm going to show you the essential steps that will make your sight-reading practice more accurate and effective. Try them in your routine!
More tips on sight-reading: 6 Principles to Improve Your Sight-reading Skills • 6 Principles to Improv...

[@lauraanthony773]

Fabulous lesson on sight-reading! I watched your video yesterday, and today played through a short piece I’d never looked at before. It was by far the best job at sight-reading I’ve ever done in my life! I feel like a whole new world has opened up to me. I’ve been playing the piano since I was tiny but never came close to becoming adept at sight-reading. Your step by step approach here is so thorough and helpful. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[@jeannetteantry1086]

I have been sight reading for a few years and this was the best explanation I have heard or in my case read in my books. Seeing the proper practice done in real time and seeing you play makes so much more sense. I see my playing improve with every aspect. It is due to wonderful experts like you who donate some time and a lot of energy to offer these free and excellent learning opportunities. Thank you. I have learned over time and with experience, a lot of what I learn and how I progress is due to the work and time I put in. That said, there are still wonderful lessons like this one that do help and make all the difference.

[@tingtingzhang]

Your comments made my day!

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

I'm a beginner and just starting to sight read. This was an excellent video and gave me the confidence to go to the next level.

[@clavichord]

This is very useful for me! I think I have this Czerny score amongst my late grandfather's old piano books, which I inherited. I plan to take time to practice faster sight reading every day I am able to. Thank you! 🙂

[@larrylun2371]

Thank you Teacher Zhang, nice teaching! 🙏

[@bigballamike88]

This was incredibly helpful! Thanks!

[@jeffh5388]

Thank you. Very good presentation w its outstanding sight reading tips. I look forward to watching your other videos. Thanks!

[@aj6417]

Awesome Teacher, you help me a lot to understand & improve my sight reading!

[@andrewwright6893]

Brilliant thanks very much

[@cjbankston]

Your video is very helpful Tingting. After watching I feel a little more confident that I can become a fluent sightreader on my piano. Thanks a million.

[@jamescps8799]

Excellent teaching🤩

[@ehsankhatibii]

It was very useful.thank you.

[@dagmarintreble]

Thank you, that was helpful 🙂

[@julesm9081]

Hi oh wow yes I need to learn this!

[@ladyc8112]

excellent video 👍

[@dianepowers9582]

Thank you so very much for this!! I am a beginner and you explained and pointed everything out on the sheet music, as you explained!! The best was that you went slowly, which made it easier for me to process all this information!!! 😊

[@tingtingzhang]

For beginners, the slower the better. Take your time, make sure to look through the piece before you play. Happy practicing!

[@jacksonamaral329]

This one is good. Wanna improve it.

[@fabiancosster2992]

A blessed for you i did watch your video i found it was helpful for me but i have to practice that technique i want you to keep post these kind of videos for me because i have a big problem with sight reading this disgusting me that i dont want to practice any pieces

[@TeachtheLoveofMusic]

Thankyou Tingting!! Great Video 😃Cheers, Kylie

[@chrisgou123]

我刚开始自学钢琴，感觉弹练习曲的时候已经尽量盯着谱子弹了，但发觉更多还是靠肌肉记忆和哪个手指头是哪个音去弹，所以我根据reddit上很多人的推荐买了一本Hannah Smith的progressive sight reading但不知道要怎么去练习sight read，你的视频说的很详细，非常感谢！

[@ggwebcast]

1. Patterns 2. Range of the piece 3. Jumps or changes of hand position 4. Articulations 5. Black key notes 6. Fingerings Great check list before playing✨🙏🏻❤

[@victoza9232]

I would add: 7. key centers/chord outlines

[@richard135b7]

Tingting this is an excellent tutorial. I feel more capable now in learning to sight read efficiently after seeing how you break it all down and analyze the piece before playing. Thank you!

[@tingtingzhang]

Thank you for your feedback!

[@JD-72191]

Thank you for this excellent video. I always have the urge to start playing right away but I know I need to go through the steps like you described to improve my chances of success with sight reading. My goal is to become a proficient sight reader. You’re right, my brain gets tired after sight reading a short song. Maybe I should limit it to 2-4 four lines rather than 2-3 pages.

[@tingtingzhang]

You're right, keeping your mind fresh is the key!

[@kayodeadeogun3325]

Nice guide. Kindly support this video with any piano grade 1 pieces.

[@schmuschu6201]

Very helpful👍

[@orrinbynum5978]

Hi this was a very informative video. I would like to continue watching more of your video. How can I keep up with your videos on sight reading in order of your lessons? Please explain this to me. Oh, thank you so much for helping us beginners in learning how to sight. I am retired now and have much more time on my hands to practice. Also I wish you continued success with your videos and even more success financially. Your sharing of your knowledge is much appreciated. Thank you again.

[@tingtingzhang]

Thank you for your support!

[@patrickgester]

I got a tip from a professor that i shouldn't look down at the keys at all when sight reading . To learn to orient myself like i am blind. but as an early intermediate student that s very hard to do. I found that almost everyone looks down.... what is your opinion about that ?

[@utlohmton7064]

This is such a great video!! The one thing I struggle the most in terms in sighting reading is the fingering, hand position, for example as you were talking about the highest and lowest points of the song, I always have a hard time deciding which finger to use for that specific part, if that makes sense, like if I have a let’s say a 3 8th note section coming up, which fingers do I use? do you have any extra tips on how to approach that? Also because my ring and pinky are really hard to use as I’m still a beginner haha!

[@tingtingzhang]

Very good question. When we sightread, our priority is to keep the flow of the music. Since there's no time to plan for the best fingering, we usually just use the fingers intuitively and refine the fingering later when we practice the piece. Fingering choice comes from previous experience, for example, if you have played a lot of scales and arpeggios you will have a good sense of fingering when you see similar patterns. My advice for all beginners is be patient, sightread often and play scales and arpeggios!

[@sevag33]

If I’m on a sight reading audition, what tempo should i be playing?

[@ChrisSquaredTwo]

To put it in short, you suggest to study the score 1st before playing. And of course things get easier. is it possible to come to a point where you directly play at first sight? After how many years?

[@tingtingzhang]

Yes, it's possible, most professional pianists should be able to do.

[@kayodeadeogun3325]

Which method books will you recommend?

[@tingtingzhang]

My favorite is Piano Adventures by Faber & Faber.

[@victoza9232]

Some players sound vastly better when they ghost play. 😄

[@123SLM123]

I cannot sight read because I need to see where my hands are going. How do I solve this?

[@tingtingzhang]

In your case, you should spend some time to get familiar with the keyboard first. Do not try to sightread hands together as you are not ready yet. Play the beginner pieces hands separately first and then put hands together. After a few weeks try to keep your eyes on the music while playing.

[@doughartley3513]

I’m in my 60’s and I’m a poor sight reader, is it too late?

[@rajaramkirloskar8660]

It’s never too late

[@tingtingzhang]

Agree, never too late but you will have to be patient and practice SR consistently.

[@doughartley3513]

Yup,you’re a cutie, love your accent.

[@TheSunIsMyDestroyer]

you're beautiful

[@OneStepToday]

Improve sound level, keep it maximum for youtube standard, it's necessary for channel growth. Sound is too low