Sight Reading for Musicians …..

Yes, that dreaded topic!!!!

I’ve noticed over the past year that a lot of musicians (students and pro) cringe when sight reading is mentioned. Instrumentalists will be kinda able to do it but vocalists will literally say “i can’t do it, can you send me a recording?” Then once they receive the recording — they will have trouble with notes that they think are too high or too low even though they just sung them a bar before. I don’t know how many times professional vocalists will book a session with me for this very reason. Reading by sight would eliminate a lot of these issues.

So how can we become good sight readers? Is this something we’re just “good” at …. no one is “good” at anything … one must learn how to!

1.Start by learning the fundamentals ….. take theory lessons, learn how understand scores …. you will be so much better a musician.

2. Sight Read every day — even if it’s just one bar (For pianist — Four Star Sight Reading Books by B. Berlin  are excellent especially cause they work on ear development and rhythm as well)

3. Don’t say I can’t …. you just lost the battle by saying “CAN”T” ( I think this might be the most important reason)

4. Work with your teacher to learn techniques, such as reading ahead  etc.

5. JUST KEEP DOING IT!!!