How do pianists improve their sight-reading skills? They work at it. In fact, at Listening House, we actively teach and drill some important concepts.
For several weeks each year, my students complete sight-reading assignments. I lend them books that are a level or two below what they normally play, which is standard procedure for sight-reading. Then I ask them to follow these steps with the new music:
1) Look it over carefully. Notice the form/pattern of the composition. Look for repeating patterns in both the right and left hand. Are there sharps or flats, or odd fingerings, or anything else you need to know?
2) Count aloud as you tap the rhythm with both hands.
3) Set the metronome on a low speed and play straight through the piece, just once, with no stops.
4) Analyze problem areas. Where did you make mistakes? How can you correct them next time?
5) Re-set the metronome and play straight through the piece again.
Following these steps, even for a few minutes a day, can dramatically improve sight-reading.
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Sight Reading Books
For students who want to improve their sight reading and prefer a structured program, some helpful books are available.
My favorites are Sight Reading and Rhythm Every Day (which Eric has used with several students) and Alfred’s Premier Piano Course Sight Reading.
Sight Reading and Rhythm Every Day offers several books that emphasize rhythm drills and more. As the website explains, they help to develop students’ skills “with key recognition, time signature recognition, pattern identification, interval recognition, and immediate response to articulation and dynamics. See
https://www.fjhmusic.com/piano/sightreading.htm.
All of Alfred’s Premier Course Sight Reading books include “14 units correlated with the lesson books, and each unit contains five activities that emphasize note reading, rhythm, playing without stopping, and playing expressively.” Check out http://www.alfred.com/Browse/Instruments/PianoKeyboard.aspx.
Either book series will help students launch a more successful sight reading experience.