Tips for Sight Reading Violin

In this video, Joel Kennedy of Kennedy Violins delves deep into the art of sight reading on the violin. Drawing from years of teaching experience, Joel shares his tried-and-true 3-step approach, offering insights on key and time signatures, finger adjustments, and the crucial role of rhythm.
Take a look at the blog post here: kennedyviolins.com/blogs/educ...
Visit us at KennedyViolins.com

[@yoosooklee]

i had a middle school audition and they asked me to come play for them and sight read. This video helped me a lot!

[@yoosooklee]

I made it!

[@KennedyViolins]

Congrats. Glad this video could be of some help. I hope you have fun with your new group

[@sammyviolinist]

Very helpful! Thanks 🙏

[@KennedyViolins]

Always glad to help!

[@loveearth262]

Very clear explanation

[@violaracer8168]

Thanks for letting me know!

[@shipsahoy1793]

🥁Great stuff, Joel. 🥳🎻

[@KennedyViolins]

Glad you liked it!

[@kellymanas6133]

I am a 63 yr old learning violin since Feb. Also just learning to read music. This info I have not heard. Are there flash cards or charts that teach what key based on how many sharps etc.? Btw I am learning on a kennedy.

[@KennedyViolins]

Cool! What violin did you buy? There are probably a lot of different places that sell key signature flash cards, but here are some I found on Amazon. They look pretty good and they probably have more options besides these. www.amazon.com/Alfreds-Essentials-Music-Theory-Signature/dp/0739038656/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1X8EDPL7WJ704&keywords=key+signature+flashcards&qid=1697830590&sprefix=key+signaure+flash+cards%2Caps%2C89&sr=8-4

[@michaelacampbell6521]

Did you play any other instruments first? I’m 53 and thinking of taking up the violin but don’t play any other instruments.

[@chriswalker3187]

I've been playing violin for a year and a half now. I'm working on Vivaldi's A minor concerto. I think my tone and intonation are pretty good, my bow technique is decent but needs work. I can play well intonated 1st through 5th position. However, my instructor is putting more emphasis on sight reading now and it seems like my intonation and bow technique suffer when I sight read, I don't feel I'm struggling with note recognition, can you explain why this happens?

[@KennedyViolins]

Your brain is a computer and once you start forcing it to process more information simultaneously, it starts to shut down. It simply can't process everything you're trying to do at the usual "level that you're used to". Once sight reading becomes less difficult for you, your brain will have more processing capacity to pay more attention to the other tasks of playing the violin. It's like driving a stick-shift car. Once you get good at it, you can do it automatically without thinking and pay more attention to the road. 😉