Trying to understand structure and harmonies in a piece is truly life changing advice! It might be a bit time consuming at first, especially for someone who is not advanced in music theory, but it can improve one’s musicianship a million times. Even with playing pieces by ear/accompanying, since it’s about understanding and being used to correlation between the sound and underlying harmonies.
I'm a professional pianist and was born with a talent for sight-reading. One physical skill which I think is critical is to train your eyes to look ahead of the notes you are currently playing. You need to be able to play the 2nd half of the measure while looking ahead to the beginning of the next measure. This informs your fingers of the shape of the next chord. Play hymns using a metronome at a speed where you are struggling. As your fingers are in position to strike a chord, train your eyes to be on the next change in harmony. Hymns are good for this because chords are often repetitive. If you are weak at playing in various keys, go thru the hymnal and mark down all the hymns in C major. Play all the C major hymns once thru then begin again at a faster tempo. Another way is to play the hymns at a tempo where, in your mind, you can name the harmony of the next chord.
That's great advice Gregory. An advanced reader, is always looking ahead. No different to when we are reading words, we are not reading every individual word. It's very much the same in music. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and tips with everyone here,
Excellent introduction to sight reading. As a beginner, I felt there is a step missing between using the lead sheet and actually playing the music as written but I'm a long way off worrying about that.
Ive been playing the piano for over 30yrs and sight reading is my nemesis. Im a note counter. The other night I googled for better sight reading tips and this was the first video to pop up. I canNOT believe what an absolute game changer this was for me. Visualising the keyboard vertically for a start helped me to realise the keyboard is not as vast as I feel it looks on advanced music pieces. Then working out the the key/chords for the song opened my eyes in a HUGE way. I sat down after watching this at the piano with a new piece of complicated music and all the sudden I saw things completely differently. The key, the chords, all the sudden it wasn't so complicated anymore. Thank you so much for this tutorial, I had total ahHA moment! Absolute game changer!
@@laramirinjian thanks for letting us know that. Sometimes the Spam filters are very strong - it might be worth emailing admin@contemporaryschool.com and double-checking. The resources pack usually lands immediately after entering your email on the site. Drop us a line and we will send it to you manually!
I search how to learn my sight reading skills. This is struggle for my intire playing piano. But I'm good in play by ear. Now I'm foud your channel sir. You explain the very understandable method. . about shape and interrval. Of notation of sheet notes. To the keyboard. Wow thank for this video. Now I have interest to practice this technic . God bless sir. .I will follow your channel
Great video! It comprehensively puts into words the methods I have been taught. But still, it's easier said than done. As I like to say, playing piano is 10% inspiration, 90% transpiration.
All the videos pretty dam clear and hav really useful perceptions. eg, the way Db is not a hard scale and has f and c with thumb same as C major. Thew six tips are great. The idea it's physical is good. Great approach, to simplify is magical...
Thank you Thank you. I can play all 12 major and minor cord, but when i shall learn a new song, with sight reading I take en note and the one note, like when i was starting to learn reading in school. I had play back after the video, and the 2 first line learn in 5 min, amazing, I feel so happy. Oluf Denmark
I do not usually comment on videos, nor do I recommend youtube tutorials for learning instruments, but as a beginner this video was very insightful. Thank you for posting this.
I'm well impressed with your videos and I've made the jump to take your courses. I've been noodling for almost a year, but I don't have any melodies in my head. Time to change that.
Nicely presented. I've played guitar for years and was self-taught. Played rhythm and had very basic music-reading skills. Just play the chords. And I've been teaching myself the keyboard, and deeper music theory with a focus on chords. Your video promises to put it all together. Thanks!
Yet another “Aha !“ moment delivered… Thank you Tom 🙏🏻 You are a wonderful teacher. I have lost count how many times I have tried to learn to understand musical notation and given up on learning to play an instrument…
As a mature (🙄) adult learner, would you suggest starting with Belà Bartok’s “For children” or “Mikeokosmos” ? Just about to order a copy but a little unsure of where to start… Thanks
Hi everyone! I'm a complete beginner and am currently learning to read music. I familiarized myself with the sheet - different notes, how to place them, using landmark system to locate notes faster. I can fairly read out notes now but not on a bigger picture level, just notes themselves. What would the next best way for me to progress? As mentioned in this video it would be best if we know our chords and patterns so should I start just reading and practicing different chords? I'm learning by myself so any guidance would really help. Thank you!
Thanks a lot for Your tips, I find them very useful, especially the first one (it's so simple ...but just great👍). 🙂But the most important thing certainly as for me is the third tip. Once more time great thanks for advice. I start practicing💪 at once. Greetings from Poland
The problem becomes the voice inside yourself, the pressure you put on yourself. Ask yourself are you harnessing the music or are you reacting against it? Try and take the load off your shoulder, and enjoy the process, love music again. Only with that foundation, you can grow.
Thank you for the response! I love music, and I’d say I’m probably on an almost intermediate level of sight-reading(if such level exists😂), so for example I can decently sight-read Bach’s prelude you were showing in the video. But sometimes it’s just hard to find enough time for practice in a hectic schedule, and your advice is wonderful, there’s really no sense in stressing over it too much and putting pressure on yourself. Will keep reminding this to myself🙂 I also had an epiphany watching another video, when the author said to practice sight-reading with pieces you CAN actually read, which sounds pretty obvious, but in my case I can be too ambitious sometimes trying to just read something like Beethoven Pathetique Sonata in one sitting and then getting upset and frustrated because I’m not able to do it😅
@@bumblebee58134 Yes, so there it is - time. I don't have enough time. But how much time can you really set aside, 30 minutes a day? Whether it's less or more, work with what you have. And yes, your lightbulb moment is right; you can play many beautiful things within your reading scope. As for the more challenging pieces, like Pathetique, let's say you start with the 2nd movement and use some of the techniques in this video. Figure out the chord progression. The frustration for many in this case is wanting to play it instantly - instant gratification. But let's take that weight off your shoulders; that's impossible, and perhaps it should be. Now you can start building a real process, maybe learning four bars a day or focusing on the melodic content first. If you watch our video, "The 6 Things I Wish I Knew About Piano," much is said about planning and process. This will set you free. You have more time than you think, and with a great plan, you have incredible resources at your fingertips.
@@contemporaryschoolofpiano I’ll definitely try to watch the video you mentioned, and it’s really true that I’m expecting instant gratification, which can slow down the progress a lot. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience!
Check the first email we sent you with the Resources Hub, click on the Resources Hub link to the page and scroll down and the sight-reading pack it there! If you haven't received any emails from us, contact us directly on admin@contemporaryschoolofpiano.com !
Thank you for watching! Which formula or approach is the most challenging for you?
Trying to understand structure and harmonies in a piece is truly life changing advice! It might be a bit time consuming at first, especially for someone who is not advanced in music theory, but it can improve one’s musicianship a million times. Even with playing pieces by ear/accompanying, since it’s about understanding and being used to correlation between the sound and underlying harmonies.
Mine is the third approach: chords/chord names
I'm a professional pianist and was born with a talent for sight-reading. One physical skill which I think is critical is to train your eyes to look ahead of the notes you are currently playing. You need to be able to play the 2nd half of the measure while looking ahead to the beginning of the next measure. This informs your fingers of the shape of the next chord. Play hymns using a metronome at a speed where you are struggling. As your fingers are in position to strike a chord, train your eyes to be on the next change in harmony. Hymns are good for this because chords are often repetitive. If you are weak at playing in various keys, go thru the hymnal and mark down all the hymns in C major. Play all the C major hymns once thru then begin again at a faster tempo. Another way is to play the hymns at a tempo where, in your mind, you can name the harmony of the next chord.
That's great advice Gregory. An advanced reader, is always looking ahead. No different to when we are reading words, we are not reading every individual word. It's very much the same in music. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and tips with everyone here,
This is such an incredibly helpful and insightful comment! Thank you for sharing your approach! You just helped me tremendously
Thanks for this advice.
agree! I am a professional accompanist as well.
Excellent introduction to sight reading. As a beginner, I felt there is a step missing between using the lead sheet and actually playing the music as written but I'm a long way off worrying about that.
Ive been playing the piano for over 30yrs and sight reading is my nemesis. Im a note counter. The other night I googled for better sight reading tips and this was the first video to pop up. I canNOT believe what an absolute game changer this was for me. Visualising the keyboard vertically for a start helped me to realise the keyboard is not as vast as I feel it looks on advanced music pieces. Then working out the the key/chords for the song opened my eyes in a HUGE way. I sat down after watching this at the piano with a new piece of complicated music and all the sudden I saw things completely differently. The key, the chords, all the sudden it wasn't so complicated anymore. Thank you so much for this tutorial, I had total ahHA moment! Absolute game changer!
I'm glad it helped. Feel free explore our channel to find more game changers!
possibly the best sight reading lesson I've seen on youtube yet... Bravo!!! And thank you for such wonderful content!
Thankyou Lara. I hope the resources pack reached you safely.
@@contemporaryschoolofpiano Thanks for checking ! I just checked including spam folders and haven't received it yet
@@laramirinjian thanks for letting us know that. Sometimes the Spam filters are very strong - it might be worth emailing admin@contemporaryschool.com and double-checking. The resources pack usually lands immediately after entering your email on the site. Drop us a line and we will send it to you manually!
@@contemporaryschoolofpiano Got it! Thank you so much! These are great !
I search how to learn my sight reading skills. This is struggle for my intire playing piano. But I'm good in play by ear. Now I'm foud your channel sir. You explain the very understandable method. . about shape and interrval. Of notation of sheet notes. To the keyboard. Wow thank for this video. Now I have interest to practice this technic . God bless sir. .I will follow your channel
I'm glad these approaches have made a positive difference. I only wish I was told these things earlier on in my musical journey.
THANK YOU SIR!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you so much.
Great video! It comprehensively puts into words the methods I have been taught. But still, it's easier said than done. As I like to say, playing piano is 10% inspiration, 90% transpiration.
This is amazing, thanks!
Best sight reading video I’ve come across. Well explained and taught Tom.
Excellent video. The mention of breaking the music down into patterns is especially effective and useful
All the videos pretty dam clear and hav really useful perceptions. eg, the way Db is not a hard scale and has f and c with thumb same as C major. Thew six tips are great. The idea it's physical is good. Great approach, to simplify is magical...
Glad you liked it!
Thank you Thank you. I can play all 12 major and minor cord, but when i shall learn a new song, with sight reading I take en note and the one note, like when i was starting to learn reading in school. I had play back after the video, and the 2 first line learn in 5 min, amazing, I feel so happy. Oluf Denmark
Excellent job. Thank you from California.
I do not usually comment on videos, nor do I recommend youtube tutorials for learning instruments, but as a beginner this video was very insightful. Thank you for posting this.
Wow, thank you!
I'm well impressed with your videos and I've made the jump to take your courses. I've been noodling for almost a year, but I don't have any melodies in my head. Time to change that.
Great teacher clear progressing logically
Thanks
Thanks for these free sight reading sheets. They are really interesting. This is now my go to page on UA-cam. Cheers.
I'm glad to hear the material is helping you, Chris!
Nicely presented. I've played guitar for years and was self-taught. Played rhythm and had very basic music-reading skills. Just play the chords. And I've been teaching myself the keyboard, and deeper music theory with a focus on chords. Your video promises to put it all together. Thanks!
Thank you 🙏🏻🎹
Thanks for listening
Thank you so much sir . Very interesting and exciting. Grazie. Merci !
Yet another “Aha !“ moment delivered… Thank you Tom 🙏🏻 You are a wonderful teacher. I have lost count how many times I have tried to learn to understand musical notation and given up on learning to play an instrument…
Nothing better than an aha moment! I'm always on the hunt for them :))
As a mature (🙄) adult learner, would you suggest starting with Belà Bartok’s “For children” or “Mikeokosmos” ? Just about to order a copy but a little unsure of where to start…
Thanks
I have one every couple months and it’s amazing.
@@mikedevlin2048 Mikrokosmos is the book you want for this method of sight reading. Children's pieces are fantastic though!
So enlightening. I’m a new subscriber Thx.
Hi everyone! I'm a complete beginner and am currently learning to read music. I familiarized myself with the sheet - different notes, how to place them, using landmark system to locate notes faster. I can fairly read out notes now but not on a bigger picture level, just notes themselves.
What would the next best way for me to progress? As mentioned in this video it would be best if we know our chords and patterns so should I start just reading and practicing different chords? I'm learning by myself so any guidance would really help. Thank you!
Ahah! Light bulb went on. For a long time I struggled. The part with recognizing the music as chords helps greatly.
Thanks a lot for Your tips, I find them very useful, especially the first one (it's so simple ...but just great👍). 🙂But the most important thing certainly as for me is the third tip. Once more time great thanks for advice. I start practicing💪 at once. Greetings from Poland
Thank you Lucy!
sight reading strategies crib sheet
Head over to our site www.contemporaryschoolofpiano.com and let us know you want the crib sheet and we will send you our resources pack.
What I do to improve sight reading, expectation: practicing, reality: watching countless “how to improve” videos😢
The problem becomes the voice inside yourself, the pressure you put on yourself. Ask yourself are you harnessing the music or are you reacting against it? Try and take the load off your shoulder, and enjoy the process, love music again. Only with that foundation, you can grow.
Thank you for the response!
I love music, and I’d say I’m probably on an almost intermediate level of sight-reading(if such level exists😂), so for example I can decently sight-read Bach’s prelude you were showing in the video. But sometimes it’s just hard to find enough time for practice in a hectic schedule, and your advice is wonderful, there’s really no sense in stressing over it too much and putting pressure on yourself. Will keep reminding this to myself🙂
I also had an epiphany watching another video, when the author said to practice sight-reading with pieces you CAN actually read, which sounds pretty obvious, but in my case I can be too ambitious sometimes trying to just read something like Beethoven Pathetique Sonata in one sitting and then getting upset and frustrated because I’m not able to do it😅
@@bumblebee58134 Yes, so there it is - time. I don't have enough time. But how much time can you really set aside, 30 minutes a day? Whether it's less or more, work with what you have. And yes, your lightbulb moment is right; you can play many beautiful things within your reading scope. As for the more challenging pieces, like Pathetique, let's say you start with the 2nd movement and use some of the techniques in this video. Figure out the chord progression. The frustration for many in this case is wanting to play it instantly - instant gratification. But let's take that weight off your shoulders; that's impossible, and perhaps it should be. Now you can start building a real process, maybe learning four bars a day or focusing on the melodic content first. If you watch our video, "The 6 Things I Wish I Knew About Piano," much is said about planning and process. This will set you free. You have more time than you think, and with a great plan, you have incredible resources at your fingertips.
@@contemporaryschoolofpiano I’ll definitely try to watch the video you mentioned, and it’s really true that I’m expecting instant gratification, which can slow down the progress a lot. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience!
Hey your video is very informative, i hv requested a free copy by mailing you. But am not provided with the same. Pls help
Check the first email we sent you with the Resources Hub, click on the Resources Hub link to the page and scroll down and the sight-reading pack it there! If you haven't received any emails from us, contact us directly on admin@contemporaryschoolofpiano.com !
@@contemporaryschoolofpiano thank you got it
@@subhankarmukherjee9855 that's great!
interesting, a few weeks ago being desperate to sight read I put my note sheets on the right side 😂
1:38 uhmmm it was for me at the beginning 😂😂
Why is there loud music in the background while you're talking ? Can't hear you bro ¯\_(ツ)_/¯