How To Read Music Faster (Piano Lesson)

[@PianoteOfficial]

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[@kolyah22]

My keyboard arrives tomorrow. Wooo!

[@PianoteOfficial]

Woo hoooo!!!

[@CinnamonEggs]

How's it going! Must be amazing to have a keyboard in your hands, I'm just waiting for my piano to come :D

[@TheGenesect10]

Emma Madsen Did you get it? :D

[@TheGenesect10]

Nick W How’s that going brother?

[@kolyah22]

TheGenesect10 it’s great thanks, I’ve learned some einaudi pieces. It’s a joy to be able to play them

[@carlosrobbins9178]

My sister was great at sight reading, and she doesn't care for the piano. I would probably kill to have her ability as I'm the music lover in the family. Life can be so cruel.

[@Rationalist101]

You can always acquire the skill yourself through practice bro... it's never too late

[@carlosrobbins9178]

@@Rationalist101 Do you sight read?

[@Rationalist101]

@@carlosrobbins9178 Yes.

[@Rationalist101]

@@carlosrobbins9178 In fact I played the first song in this video

[@carlosrobbins9178]

@@Rationalist101 What system did you use to learn sight reading. An y tips? You heard the woman in the video say this is a struggle for her. I would appreciate any input.

[@pamelaclayton7535]

You are such a good teacher! I am 68 and I’m still learning from you!

[@mar-xm1cb]

Pamela Clayton one more year

[@theartgoose]

mar10 lmao

[@mettapeachhead2076]

You are now 69

[@okenpaws]

@@mettapeachhead2076 lmao

[@CHARAR385]

The way I learned to sightread was after I joined my school band. When I took private piano lessons, I'd pause and my teacher would tell me the note. This led to me learning by ear and memorization, no actual reading. However, in band you're forced to read and learn on your own and since I never practiced at home (the mallet family is easy to learn if you play piano), I ended up sightreading most of the time without proper time to remember it. All I use FACE, but you get used to seeing D and remembering it's a D in reference of FACE. This might not make sense, but that's what worked for me at least. It's been almost 3 years and I've improved in sightreading and reading as a whole. Practice every day and you'll get it.

[@PianoteOfficial]

Love this! Keep up the great work! :)

[@gregwiles3296]

I love your advice to circle the sharps or flats. I do this and it helps me get through learning songs a bit faster. Some people have tried to discourage me from doing it, because they're afraid I'll get too dependent on it. But it really seems to cue me about sharps and flats. And, like you said, you don't necessarily have to think about every note.

[@LBCCBandGeek]

Another approach is to pencil in the sharp or flat before a note. Sometimes when dealing with a measure that has a bunch of accidentals (i.e. a line of 16th notes that ventures outside of the key), it can be easy to forget if a note was marked flat or sharp 2 beats ago..

[@musicalintentions]

good advice Students often get hung up on identifying/naming every single note. Looking for patterns is the way to go.

[@chainjail924]

i think know the name of notes for beginner is also important. isnt it? idk im beginner too and i found out knowing all the notes and identify it faster everyday helps too for beginner

[@musicalintentions]

ChainJail You are correct. It’s essential to know the names of notes. However, music is made from groups or patters of notes. Recognizing the patterns makes learning music easier. This is also why music theory is so important. Keep up the good work! 😊

[@kadeandkeys8861]

So true! There is no shortcut. It takes a lot of practice. It's interesting because you just keep on practicing and you don't really even think much about how good you can sight read. You just keep reading and reading, and years after, you realize that it almost becomes second nature to sight read, and it also becomes fun. Well, for some music.

[@BirdyinBOI]

I have a question...Has the meaning of “sight reading” changed over the years. When I was taking piano lessons 60 years ago, sight reading meant picking up a piece you had never seen before and playing it the best you could...on first sight of it. Anything after that was practicing or learning a piece. Sight reading was your first shot at it and it was a pretty valid gauge of how you were progressing.

[@jessicasheng8074]

Phil Ackerman no it’s still the same

[@BirdyinBOI]

Thanks Jessica. So many people out there seem to use the term for just reading music. I’m glad I didn’t lose my mind along the way!

[@jessicasheng8074]

Phil Ackerman no problem :) I mean I guess that term is used more loosely now. I’d say people would also use it when they’re playing a piece they’re not too familiar with, instead of strictly on the first sight of it

[@BirdyinBOI]

Thanks Jessica!

[@jessicasheng8074]

Dean Clark I doubt it. For us its basically just means the fingers (1,2,3,4,5) you use to play the piece..? (I don’t know a better way to describe it) It’s usually written down on the score by the editor to make playing some passages more easily, or you can write your own if you have some other fingering that you yourself use.

[@justinstuart8382]

I haven't read music properly for nearly 30 years since I was learning as a child. I watched this video at work came straight home and swear I just played the first 2 parts of Shine on you Crazy Diamond by Pink Floyd on my Keyboard almost off pat. Was literally Music to my ears. Thank you so much ! I'm going to keep practicing.!!!

[@lowstringc]

From a music teacher: you’re a wonderful teacher! Thanks. Also, if I may venture a compliment: your eye structure and the corners of your mouth ate hecka pretty!

[@Lord_Vinheteiro]

Very good lesson!

[@usernameatusernameperiodsh2168]

Yes lord praise

[@nate-ox5lw]

I love you

[@GlortMusic]

Oh my G, the Lord has arrived!

[@CSUnger]

My word, what a delightful person. You make learning that much more interesting just by your enthusiasm and personality alone.

[@timandmel777]

Yes, excellent sight-reading tips. I would add 1) identify any challenging rhythm patterns and clap them out. 2) (Although some people do this naturally, some don’t) while playing, always be looking ahead at least to the next note.

[@tesa1526]

Me in my 6th year of playing piano and had to figure EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE by myself 👁👄💧👁

[@parkerhubs]

I just love watching and learning from your lessons. You have a very pleasant and calming way of teaching the student without feeling overwhelmed. Keep them coming!

[@praveenanookala4457]

I agree!!!!

[@billpowell5931]

Your tips are perfect for me. I am picking up things slowly, and your videos help a great deal. Your enthusiasm is motivating for me. Thank you for all you do especially for us beginners.

[@TheSIGHTREADINGProject]

Thanks! I hadn’t thought of anchor notes and thinking in chords across both hands My tip- you are not failing if you go right back to total basics to sort out your sight reading. Don’t be afraid of it. The simpler the better. Books that teach reading from a Chord and Interval approach are the fastest way to start getting a bit of progress. Alfred Piano books and I’m told Faber use this. Im using the Alfreds and have gone through from 1b to level 3 and its really helping. Previously I’d got to ABRSM grade 6 without being a fluent reader and it was really frustrating! Thanks for addressing this. I’m looking for anything to help sort this out!

[@praveenanookala4457]

Thank you for that!

[@jeffcorino6232]

I appreciate your clear and patient explanations and tips. You make learning fun. I am not a beginner but I am picking things up again and wish to advance . My first instrument was the accordion so your left hand exercises was very helpful, in particular .Thank you for your great attitude and lovely smile. Jeff Corino

[@PianoteOfficial]

Thanks so much Jeff!

[@NikosAravanis]

Patience and persistence can get you far,thanks for the tips.

[@eugenelayton5231]

Thank you! I've read music for years but never fluently. You've laid out some concepts that I can understand and use to develop my sight reading skills.

[@sweetdragon36067]

thanks for the tips. You are the opposite of an old music teacher I had a few years ago. He could read and play the most complicated written music imaginable, BUT if you sat him in front of a piano with no music, he could not play a note. I tend to play as you do: albeit not nearly as good, sit at the piano and play where my ear takes me.

[@hectoraguilar770]

Hi! Thank you for this wonderful video. I'd like to say about other good tips to learn sight reading. First of all, is to learn the notes in 2nd and 3rd intervals and then, the other intervals. For example in the treble (G) cleft starting in the 2nd line of the staff. We are able to give the names up and down the Treble cleft. Starting from the 1rst line in 2nd intervals: E,F,(G),A,B,C,D,E,F whereas the 2nd line is the most important because is the G who is giving the name and the order of the sounds. 3rd intervals in lines: E,(G),B,D,F 3rd intervals in spaces: F,A,C,E whereas E becomes to be the first line and F becomes to be the 1st space. Recognize the chords in first, second lines and first space. First to spell the music alphabet in 2nd intervals: C,D,E,F,(G),A,B and 3rds intervals: C,E,(G),B,D,F,A 1rst line Em9 chord: E,(G),B,D,F The Em Phrygian Mode... 2nd line the G7chord: (G),B,D,F The G Mxolydian Mode... 1st space the FM7 chord: F,A,C,E The Lydian Mode... Other method is to define our reference points In G cleft would be: C and (G) below, inside and above the staff. So we can identify what notes are between the C and (G), (G) and C...and what notes are below and above C and (G)....B, C, D; F, (G), A. Another method is to identify the note that is in the 3rd line [B] because is gonna be the same name note that will be over the 1st additional line below of the staff and in the top of the first additional line above the staff , like a mirror. The last one is identify the rooth, the 1st inversion, the 3rd inversion and the 4th inversion of any diatonic chord in the (G) staff in blocks or arpeggios. The most important method to sight reading is the practice. Practice with discipline makes the master... Well, I hope this adfitional information could help some how to become a sight reader master. Greetings from Tijuana!

[@carolineandtigger]

It is hard. Sight reading takes a lot of practice.

[@Rationalist101]

Yep

[@lisa_chogiwa4096]

my piano teacher told me that i have to learn how to sight read. so that’s what i’m trying to do and its sooo hard ;(

[@mikeuk1954]

I'm one month into learning piano (65 retired) and find sight reading incredibly difficult. I do what everyone says you shouldn't do and write the notes in. 😔 If I didn't I would never move forward. So far Fur Elise (easy part) and Greensleeves also 1st part of Cannon. Lots of chords which I find difficult to remember names of🤪 lots of scales practice!

[@PianoteOfficial]

It's not the worst thing in the world, if it's helping you play and enjoy the piano! That's the main thing. As you keep practicing it does get easier and hopefully you can find that you won't have to write the notes in as much :) Good luck!!

[@nickn1316]

Brilliant & beautiful Teacher - you make it easier and less daunting and I actually really enjoyed the lesson 😎🤗😇

[@clarkebynum4623]

Best advice or "tip" for sightreading is to just force yourself to sightread for 30 minutes a day. These things come naturally if you just do that every day. All the things you mentioned in the video should be done away from the piano. Practice away from the piano is very important In classical music.

[@varunsathya696]

Dude, I sightread like 2 hours a day at least, i don't see much improvements either, I'm still stuck at grade 0-1

[@mistadude]

@@varunsathya696 don't do it for too long at a time that just tires out your brain if you're gonna do it 2 hours total take breaks in between. You can also use flashcards and stuff

[@varunsathya696]

@@mistadude it definitely helps to do flashcards :D I've improved a lot lately!

[@mistadude]

@@varunsathya696 Awesome!!

[@Engineer9736]

I still need to learn all the scales... I should do that flash card idea indeed for that 🙂 Up to now i literally read the key signature and remember all the changed notes. But that’s undoable for large pieces. Oh well there are infinite things to learn in music.

[@chrisheise2912]

I am learning so much from you Lisa! You are fun and inspiring. A great teacher! Thank you!

[@MadMusician]

My biggest tips would be: keep your eyes on the sheet music as much as possible (but not the full way through, which is worse) and to not stop. Try picking a tempo to where it's very easy to play said piece without stopping much and without excessive need to look down. And if you are not like me, where you need to look at the music instead of your hands, then you likely might have an easier time with this than I would. Naturally, I've learned on the piano how to memorize the sheet music I need to play so I can focus mostly on my hands; and that has become a slight hinderance to my sight reading.

[@rishabhbhatia1847]

Another tip: Listen to the piece first and understand it. Then read not notes like letters but like words and sentences.

[@JujYFru1T]

"if you're more of an ear player than a sight reader" oh my GOD lightbulb moment!! even though chords are still another language to me lmao. I'm an adult learner (started in my 20s and omg ten years already...) but I've liked piano since I was little so I got to know the *sounds* of notes waaaaaaay before I ever learned *where* the notes are or what they were called. also having a disability that affects my hands means I have to always look at the keyboard bc I'm nowhere near the level of "feeling" where my fingers are, even on a piece I know well. I think the chord chart method might also help me to know what a note is from hearing it, without looking at the music, or hunting for the notes like I usually do ("no, yikes nope, oh there it is!"). besides, my right hand's the obedient one since I'm a lefty :P so glad I found this channel!!

[@fidelogos7098]

Very helpful. Thanks. I'm working my way through an "easy" piano book of movie songs and, in addition to improving my sight reading, I'm having fun trying to flesh out the music to make it richer.

[@PeterHontaru]

How to get better at sight reading - spend thousands of hours doing it! All the things you mentioned definitely help improve efficiency though. Love your style of making videos

[@rishabhraj_]

Great video. Thanks for sharing with us.

[@madhurimondal7182]

The one and only word is developing sight reading has no shortcut but hard practice.

[@wiwinrose5984]

Big thanks for the tips!!! ❤ If even you find sight-reading difficult, that means I am just a normal person. I used to think very bad of myself for not being good at it 🤗

[@amirmoslehi2093]

Your videos keep me motivated every single time. Thank you for the great job!

[@forgetmenot2512]

Thank you so much for your video tips, very helpful! I never thought I could do a music note analyses that could help speed up the process so much! 💖

[@rajobratadas8799]

First! I was searching all over KZbin for this, and then you upload it! Thanks a bunch

[@marc336]

Same

[@PianistMatar]

You are the best teacher ever

[@lisabenson8324]

These are terrific tips! You are a great teacher and enjoy what you are doing! Thanks for this lesson!

[@guitargod6997]

This advice is spot on. Very valuable tips on how to learn the pattern recognition of reading notation. Excellent.

[@PianoteOfficial]

Thanks Jay!

[@joewhitfield6316]

Thank you for your invaluable tips. You described me perfectly.

[@airgunsandstuffyorkshire269]

I am a beginner and the piano flashcards app is helping me a lot. I would recommend this to any new music readers out there.

[@donaldenox6332]

Cool THANKS for helping me. Im a bassest by ear fir over 30yrs learning piano play be 👂 but needing to learn music. Again thanks very appreciated.

[@gioretorta6106]

I think the chord at 5:03 is actually a root position C-chord rather than a 2nd Inversion one, since the bass note is a C, not an G. The chord that follows this is a 1st inversion G-chord (since you seem to be labeling them by inversions)

[@gmtgsong4635]

Exactly what I was thinking, Gio. Other than that small thing, she has some really good reading tips. Perhaps she'll correct it?

[@alexh3143]

same

[@llewis2814]

Love your lesson I feel like Iam in a class that help., Being a intermediate piano getting back in to Playing again sight reading over playing by ear

[@johnomarlarnelladams843]

I say that I'm sub par as a sight reader in music playing whether its guitar, bass or piano or my bongos. I look at the piece and hum the melody I see in the treble clef part of the pieces two or one measure. Or I will go on KZbin type in the song or instrumental title and see if my hummed melody matches the song then play the melody if it is correct and lined up with the song. Thanks for the video gorgeous 1!

[@nvaishnav2109]

U r videos are very help ful i am not 100% in sightreading but i gotten 70% from u r video and also needed u r more piano exercises and i am regularly practicing your exercises and its really help ful thanks ! And need more videos Very help full chennal :)

[@elizabethmalangmei914]

I love ur teaching scales.......super good , easy to understand.

[@amaliafeliz1457]

Amazing tips! That'll help me a lot.

[@thesb2836]

1. Look at the music 2. Look for patterns 3. Set up for logical fingering 4. Identify anchor notes 5.turn sheet music into chord chart

[@ahappyperson1573]

Ohhhh this video provide me with much knowledge that I could not figure out myself and struggled with reading notes. Thank youuuuu 💯💯💯

[@defons1234]

Always great tips very helpful thank you very much

[@anitamorrison5426]

Excellent thank you so so much your a great teacher learn so much. God bless you

[@DenZhdanovPianist]

A great sight reading technique! It's cool that we musicians may share our experience on a bigger scale!

[@JayRedding12_12]

I love the pink unicorn. Reminds me of my daughter who loves pink unicorns 🦄 Good sight reading tips. I'll have try them.

[@Lucatheclimber]

Thanks for the helpful tips. I always thought you shouldn't edit the sheets. Now everything makes more sense:)

[@eugenetswong]

I can't wait to apply this for trumpet playing. I think that I need to learn to trust my pattern recognition skills. To practise that and to develop my trust, I will find any 2 notes in musical exercise books, and then just play the notes in between.

[@pleaseexcusemydeeplyawkwar4972]

Eeeehee someone who also highlights their music!! I highlight dynamics too hehe. Sometimes I write the patterns down and then put them in brackets along the staff. If some parts are repeated I do big vertical* brackets on the measures to put them in chunks.

[@Rationalist101]

Minuet in G major was my first ever recital song!!!

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

Merci. I will be starting to read music and I like your attitude.

[@rishiroy8195]

Currently The guy who's teaching me he's so good whenever i take a sheet music to him he starts humming without touching the piano, even when he's not in front of the piano. He's that good!

[@TheGenesect10]

Damn!

[@rishiroy8195]

@@TheGenesect10 sightsinging is important for everyone. If one's serious bout his music.

[@TheGenesect10]

Rishi Roy Yep! I am learning it now, and while I know how to read it I am not so fast of doing so

[@rishiroy8195]

@@TheGenesect10 I'm sounding like a pundit 😅 but honestly I'm yet to do it. But keep trying. It's not a matter if joke. Don't give up even it takes years.

[@TheGenesect10]

Rishi Roy Hehe! You are right though, it takes a long time to master it but it’s important, and I wanna be in a band someday so hopefully I can do that!

[@tonyhema3582]

You have such an infectious personality Lisa, makes me forget what I'm in your site for. Ha ha humour aside your tuition is colorful, descriptive and engaging.

[@Dukey22]

Oh this is great advice. Your videos are great to watch.

[@Singinsally]

BRAVA! I especially like the chord recognition idea. Excellent tips, thank you. I ask my students to flip pages in a music book and play a few measures each day. They are beginning to enjoy the process. 👏

[@TimothyFish]

I'm fairly good at sight reading and the way I do it is nothing like this. I took lessons when I was young but that method didn't work for me. I was an adult when I really picked it up. Rather than associating lines and spaces with letters, I cheated and just associated them with positions on the keyboard. To get to letters, I have to visualize the keyboard, but the advantage is that I see the line or space and can point to it on the keyboard. I even do pretty well with ledger lines.

[@TimothyFish]

@@bettyangwenyi1797, I'm not sure. I struggled with explaining it the first time. Is there anything in particular you want explained?

[@privcraft_]

@@bettyangwenyi1797 Basically when they see a note, they think of a piano position, not the note name.

[@tme98]

@@privcraft_ doesn't this come naturally when you have been reading sheet music for a while? I mean if I see a C on the sheet, then my brain does know where it is but I still gotta look for it lol

[@lazyinlincoln]

You are AWESOME.....your videos have helped this beginning piano player immensely!!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!

[@LilHeavenlyTreasures]

Great tips. Thanks Lisa. I loved how excited you got during this video.

[@alinemah5849]

This is a brilliant lesson! Thank you.

[@michaelhiggins7365]

What a fantastic easy to understand instructional video. Your style of teaching as well as the graphics are Top Drawer. I find this all so very helpful. Thank You !

[@janeruthwairimu818]

Very informative. I've been struggling with sight reading but now will work with this day by day. Many thanks.

[@frankworley-lopez2282]

Thank you for this. Great system!

[@johnellison3030]

Great tips. Thanks for posting.

[@gwenb123]

Thank you, this was so helpful! I play by ear using chords but like to use sheet music to get more specific. It is such a chore! Can't wait to try these tricks.

[@VijayMahanthi]

My mind was blown by the fifth step. new subscriber 😁

[@stopthink9000]

Love your teaching style! Subscribed!

[@rodrigodezubiria2007]

Sheet music right at my level Great video Great tips Great enthusiasm Thank you.

[@jeanpierre2475]

Thank you teacher

[@metacarpitan]

I usually just figure out which note is the first and then use intervals to find the correct notes on the keyboard,makes it super easy to learn a new song and you don’t need to think about each note

[@haditwithwork]

Great tips! Thank you!

[@georgedavidson5789]

I am using the Lorene McClintock piano method to learn to play piano, which includes theory and reading written music, I am finding it extremely helpful to learn to sight read, I am at lesson 79 of 201 lessons and I feel by the time I finish lesson 201, I will have a good handle on reading music and playing piano, then I can go on to playing different styles of music! I hope this info helps people!

[@janicecramp5704]

Thank you. I needed some tips. I will have to get back to you

[@MrLang-pd6he]

This helps me a lot. Thank you. I appreciate it. Keep doing what you do! 😁

[@cosmicguy8107]

The chord tip is priceless thanks

[@Kanelle88]

A - outline in red, B- outline in orange... keep going in a rainbow fashion all the way to G that you leave as black. For Black keys you add a dot of glitter along with the color. As long as you memorize what the keys look like on the piano you're set.

[@jhessicafranchetti6465]

There is an app called "Claves" that helped me alot to sight read. It's a little game where you have to read the note passing through the sheet, and when you get it right, a little ball goes out and play the note. It's very good and entertaining. You can adjust the difficulty and the clave too.

[@mcavenaghi]

Great tips! Thanks 😊

[@delhibill]

Nicely done and some good info.

[@gabri3ltz]

Thank You! I love Bach!

[@fingalgrunbauer1540]

These tips are great for sight reading, although I don't think it'll help you learn faster. Thi is a process which you'll have to do with every single piece. I learned sight reading by first just looking at the sheet music while listening to it one time, and then just start playing. This way you'll link the notes to the sound you've just heard, and you'll learn the notes individually instead of in pairs, which I think helps more, since this way you'll be able to see what note on the sheet music is on the piano faster, which will make sight reading much easier

[@steelplayer118]

Very helpful. Thank you very much.

[@arroyobaby38]

Oh how I wish you were my piano teacher here in New York 😎

[@theodorekorbos2804]

You're a fantastic Teacher Thank you and I do love minuet in G !! I never really thought about making chords that's great !! Thank you ,,sight reading is hard for me it takes me a while!! Ohhh by the way '' thank you for the free music that's very kind of you !! Have a great weekend Teddy Korbos !! ;)

[@vlaseansmithen3305]

Thanks so much! This will be so useful

[@amablankson5044]

thank you ! im 11 and learning piano and this really helped me learn!

[@iamwestking]

Thank you so much for this helpful video! :D

[@H3irennnn]

Omg! Now i can play it clearly thank you!

[@edwinrosado1859]

Thank you so much for all the tips and knowledge you give to us. Oh way you make the t-shirts with the pianote.

[@stephen285]

Great video! There is a great free program named jalmus, been out there for many years- it just runs randomly generated notes at you on a staff and grades your note and timing accuracy- once installed go to exercises>score reading and be sure to really play with the preferences so you understand how flexible it is, key, speed, notes- it teaches (at all levels) the most important things in sight reading- rapid note recognition and timing. Even if you don't hook a keyboard to your computer it is a fantastic tool . It is highly condensed learning.......................... best thing I ever did for my sight reading was come back to jalmus and work slowly and deliberately daily