Piano Sight-Reading with Paul Harris

[@juliannadoyle7171]

First key to sight reading for me is learning the key that the piece is written in and then the scale and arpeggios in that key. Step one. Thank you for step one.

[@profsjp]

Thank you for this very clear, systematic exposition. Inspiring at all ages and stages!

[@RajaSir21]

Thank you Paul for this video. Also i have purchased your entire series and its absolutely worth it. it has certainly improved my sight reading skills.

[@PaulHarrisWeb]

Thanks so much for this and forgive me for taking so long to respond - delighted it's helped!

[@percyvolnar8010]

Paul, thank you so much for your books. I used the 'Improve your sight reading' books to actually LEARN how to sight-read. Its feels all very much like unlocking one of lifes most beautiful perks.

[@PaulHarrisWeb]

Dear Percy, thanks so much for writing it's very good to know the books have been so useful. All very best wishes, Paul

[@keys6]

Thank you! I am using your books!

[@CaptJackAubreyOfTheRoyalNavy]

At what pace should one move through your Improve... books? An exercise per day? A stage per week?

[@JD-72191]

First, I purchased book 4 but realized I needed to go all the way back to book 2. I’ve been working on the exercises daily over the last month or so and I’ve gotten to the end of book 3. I noticed when I am sight reading a random easy piano piece I am much better at it than before I seriously started sight reading exercises. I will likely continue the series of books.

[@PaulHarrisWeb]

Very good to hear! And so glad the books were useful. Let me know how you get on in the future. Best wishes!

[@hanadihassan4440]

Thank you

[@speakenglishwithjoe2063]

Hi Paul, question from my son who is learning how to play the piano - how do you know which Octave to use/play in a piece of sight reading? He is currently practicing on your book " Improve your sight-reading"...thanks!

[@PaulHarrisWeb]

Hi Joe, Many thanks for your message - notated middle C has a strict position on the piano keyboard. It's the C pretty much in the middle. And that gives you the geography for the rest of the notes. Hope that helps! Paul

[@speakenglishwithjoe2063]

@@PaulHarrisWeb thanks, Paul! He is doing G2 in Nov, very musical (had distinction in G1!) but plays a lot by ear...I can't wait to show him this message from you, thanks!

[@speakenglishwithjoe2063]

Hi Paul, great news: my son Joseph received a DISTINCTION for his Grade 2 piano exam! He had a distinction for Grade 1 as well but this time sight reading was 18/21👍we have already bought your book for Grade 3😜🎹 All the best

[@PaulHarrisWeb]

@@speakenglishwithjoe2063 Do send my congratulations to Joseph! Hope he get's on well with the Grade 3 book! Best wishes, Paul

[@oneirdaathnaram1376]

I have purchased your books ("Fit vom Blatt" vol. 1 - 3) in Zürich two weeks ago and am enthusiastic about the lessons: very systematic, very entertaining (look at the titles of the little pieces!), very subtle increase in challenge in the progressions of the lessons. (Up to what I cannot believe to achieve in book 3, from my current point of view of book 1!) One point still is not clear to me: How much time for preparation still is allowed under the term "sigth-read"? - Does it mean that I get a score and start to play it after as few time of preparation as possible? One glimpse, 5 seconds? - Or does it mean that I study it intensely and in all dimensions for some 10 minutes before I dare to start playing? Honestly, I still need a looot of preparation in order to play through your exercises correctly (sigh!).

[@PaulHarrisWeb]

Thanks so much for writing and its a good question. It's very rare that we would ever have to literally read without having any previous view of the music. Sometimes this might happen in orchestral playing. In learning to 'sight read' I think some careful preparation is a very good idea - as in the questions I pose in the 'Prepared Pieces'. Maybe looking and thinking about the music for a minute or two. And then play. If you want get improve your ability to literally 'read at sight' (as we might do with a new book) then decrease this preparation time (over a period of time). Maybe spend 30 seconds or so preparing the music in your head. Then down to 20 seconds and so on. Eventually your brain will learn to process quickly and playing music from first sight will become ever more possible.

[@oneirdaathnaram1376]

@@PaulHarrisWeb Oh, thank you so much, dear Mr Harris, for answering my question personally - what an honour! Being able to sight-read music was my dream for some 40 years (I am 54 now). During military service at night, I used to hide under the blankets with a torch and a score of Dvořák's 9th symphony in order to seek comfort in reading through music. Now, 30 years later, I have started to learn the piano in order to understand music better. Your learning program helps me enormously in acquiring the art to comprehend music quickly. It is almost like "I can't help improving" with your program! I am deeply grateful to your work.

[@PaulHarrisWeb]

@@oneirdaathnaram1376 Good luck with it all and keep in touch!

[@LearningToPlayAVirginals]

Hi Paul. I'm a beginner (year in) playing a virginal with a harpsichord method book. I've no previous keyboard/piano experience, but I'm wondering if I should supplement my studies with your sight reading series. I realise dynamics are different with piano, but I'm thinking it could still be worth undertaking as rhythm, note durations, intervals, etc are the same. Any thoughts are appreciated. Ta.

[@PaulHarrisWeb]

Many thanks for your interesting comment. I think you would find working through the book particularly helpful as pitch and rhythm are the fundamental elements in notation and the book deals with these in a very systematic way. Dynamics are much less important really and, in your case, it would be entirely acceptable to ignore them.