For older players...sight reading can become challenging with bifocals where you have to "aim" your eyeglasses. Tip: Talk to your optometrist and get a separate pair of glasses with a "reading +" prescription (i.e., focal distance not quite as close as a reading prescription). Measure the typical distance from your eyes to music stand and your optometrist can optimize that one pair of glasses just for that use. Mine work great with my computer screens too. Everything in that specific range is in focus.
I did this last year. The distance from my eyes to the stand is 22 inches. The optometrist said usual distance for reading glasses is 12 inches. It makes a BIG difference! I can now see my music crystal clear!
Yes I know what you mean. I had a pair of those made up. But even better (because I can see to read without glasses) I have one contact lense for distance in one eye and leave the other free! Perfect for me.
Good afternoon. I checked out your video out for the first time. Thanks. I see that a foundation is key. I get frustrated very easily. More so now at 71. I know the note but I hesitate. I need to take some to look at the fingering chart. I cannot seem to just read the notes smoothly. I just don’t know what I a doing wrong.
This was helpful, Scott. Thanks for posting this. My challenge will sight r eading is interpreting the rhythms. A deep dive into this topic would be awesome!
Great video and like others I have a problem lifting the rhythm off the paper... I also have difficulty with symmetry when reading muic especially E & F not sure if it is because I am left handed, don't play left handed, but my brain does some things right handed as well as left handed. Another example I often play A when I should be playing E. It would be good to know if others have the same problem...
In my band class I got a new band teacher who does not go over anything and she just gives us music and I failed miserably, I can’t read music on the spot, it was so embarrassing 😂😂 so I had to tell her I am terrible at sight reading😅 So Thanks for this video!
That sax-teacher "Caravan" collaboration is AWSOME!! Your solo was smokin' hot! My biggest challenges are what you touched on here: reading rhythms and not being able to look ahead to see where things are headed. Using video clips that show the rhythm, with a line that moves along the chart or red notes have been a help, but it is a slow process.
Are usually don’t have a problem with rhythm but it the actually notes. A lot of times it’s added sharps and flatts. And reading above or below the staff.
Hi Scott, grouping notes so the measure splits into 2 ( at least into 4 4 time) is good practice from a music theory / music engraving position. Linking across best 2 and 3 will be very confusing.
Guys I have never really been able to sight read, and I tried out for the higher up band in my school because it was required in my band class and I practiced the piece a lot and counted it out slowly and we submitted a recording she ended up putting me into the higher up band I didn’t want to get in because of how awful my sight reading was and now school is about to start so here I am😅thanks for this video I was feeling really discouraged but I’ll work hard this week before school😂
I can read music, but not fast enough to play from. I just transcribe it in to keys and play the song from those. Once Ive read the key signature, after the first few lines, its easy to work out the tune.
I cannot read the individual notes quick enough and this fact alone limits my playing speed. I'm 14 months in to my lessons so I'm still learning loads but this is a real sticcking point
Hey Jonathan, there are note reading apps that you can get for free or cheap on your phone where they flash a note and you have to name it. Working through one of those 5 minutes a day will help you solve that problem pretty quick. You can start off just saying it, then play it and say it. I've used them with my students before, and the improvement is pretty quick.
Hey Jon! You should check out my Sax School. I have a Beginner Pathway course that will get you started from scratch, you'll be playing some of your favorite songs in no time at all. Here's the link: www.scottpaddocksaxschool.com
If you start sight reading late in life, you will NEVER be as good as classical/jazz/studio musician/music school professionals who have been doing it since childhood. You might get good at it with a lot of hard work and practice, but you'll never reach their level.
The secret to sight reading music ---- and be really f ---- g good at it, like the pros ---- start very young, and do it ALL THE TIME. If you've ever been around symphony/classical players and jazz/big band/music school pros, and wonder how they are able to sight read so well, it's because they have been doing it seriously since childhood. They make it look easy. They also can be total A-holes towards beginners and older learning sight readers, treating you like a real dummy and making you feel really stupid. In their world you are a failure and they don't have time for you. Their world is highly competitive and full of people with giant egos who have no time for "wannabees". Starting late in life is tough. Unless you practice sight reading and play 24/7, and even then, you'lll NEVER be as good as they are.
For older players...sight reading can become challenging with bifocals where you have to "aim" your eyeglasses. Tip: Talk to your optometrist and get a separate pair of glasses with a "reading +" prescription (i.e., focal distance not quite as close as a reading prescription). Measure the typical distance from your eyes to music stand and your optometrist can optimize that one pair of glasses just for that use. Mine work great with my computer screens too. Everything in that specific range is in focus.
I did this last year. The distance from my eyes to the stand is 22 inches. The optometrist said usual distance for reading glasses is 12 inches. It makes a BIG difference! I can now see my music crystal clear!
Great tip. I work on a computer all day so have glasses just as you mention and these have been perfect for reading music too.
GREAT TIP!!!
Yes I know what you mean. I had a pair of those made up. But even better (because I can see to read without glasses) I have one contact lense for distance in one eye and leave the other free! Perfect for me.
Scott, I watched you with Jamie Anderson, that was an awesome video, I loved watching all you great musicians together on one screen.
Thanks for all your tips 👍🏼. Enjoy one of my favorite places in the world Playa del Carmen 😎
Good afternoon. I checked out your video out for the first time. Thanks. I see that a foundation is key. I get frustrated very easily. More so now at 71. I know the note but I hesitate. I need to take some to look at the fingering chart. I cannot seem to just read the notes smoothly. I just don’t know what I a doing wrong.
Thanks for addressing this question, Scott.
Scott, your solo on caravan was fantastic and worth waiting until the end. It was all super cool for sure but you killed it!
My biggest challenge in sight reading is rhythms and counting/feeling the rests which create the phrasing! Do a video on rests!!
This was helpful, Scott. Thanks for posting this. My challenge will sight r eading is interpreting the rhythms. A deep dive into this topic would be awesome!
Love your work Scott! 👍
I absolutely enjoyed you n others collaboration brilliant absolutely brilliant
the Caravan arrangement is excellent
Love your sessions. The CARAVAN - Performed By Your Favourite Sax UA-camrs was GREAT!!!
Maybe it doesn’t count as sight reading, but what about reading through and playing it in your head once first?
It would be great if you could go through your part on Caravan and explain all the playing techniques in the notation.
Great video and like others I have a problem lifting the rhythm off the paper... I also have difficulty with symmetry when reading muic especially E & F not sure if it is because I am left handed, don't play left handed, but my brain does some things right handed as well as left handed. Another example I often play A when I should be playing E. It would be good to know if others have the same problem...
Great information
In my band class I got a new band teacher who does not go over anything and she just gives us music and I failed miserably, I can’t read music on the spot, it was so embarrassing 😂😂 so I had to tell her I am terrible at sight reading😅 So Thanks for this video!
That sax-teacher "Caravan" collaboration is AWSOME!! Your solo was smokin' hot!
My biggest challenges are what you touched on here: reading rhythms and not being able to look ahead to see where things are headed. Using video clips that show the rhythm, with a line that moves along the chart or red notes have been a help, but it is a slow process.
Great to see you here Rob, I’m a big fan!
Are usually don’t have a problem with rhythm but it the actually notes. A lot of times it’s added sharps and flatts. And reading above or below the staff.
I need a Rest Video to but you did 👍🏼
Far out Scott , great video ! I watched you guys , it was awesome. I hope you guys get together again real soon ?
Hi Scott, grouping notes so the measure splits into 2 ( at least into 4 4 time) is good practice from a music theory / music engraving position. Linking across best 2 and 3 will be very confusing.
Guys I have never really been able to sight read, and I tried out for the higher up band in my school because it was required in my band class and I practiced the piece a lot and counted it out slowly and we submitted a recording she ended up putting me into the higher up band I didn’t want to get in because of how awful my sight reading was and now school is about to start so here I am😅thanks for this video I was feeling really discouraged but I’ll work hard this week before school😂
Sorry, if you read that that was probably really hard to read! I didn’t use any punctuation😅
I can read music, but not fast enough to play from. I just transcribe it in to keys and play the song from those. Once Ive read the key signature, after the first few lines, its easy to work out the tune.
What is your saxophone model?
It's a P. Mauriat 67RX
I cannot read the individual notes quick enough and this fact alone limits my playing speed. I'm 14 months in to my lessons so I'm still learning loads but this is a real sticcking point
Hey Jonathan, there are note reading apps that you can get for free or cheap on your phone where they flash a note and you have to name it. Working through one of those 5 minutes a day will help you solve that problem pretty quick. You can start off just saying it, then play it and say it. I've used them with my students before, and the improvement is pretty quick.
I am an absolute begginer. can you a video for people who have never played a musical instrument before,
Hey Jon! You should check out my Sax School. I have a Beginner Pathway course that will get you started from scratch, you'll be playing some of your favorite songs in no time at all. Here's the link: www.scottpaddocksaxschool.com
I have trouble reading notes above and below the stave, the further from the stave the more difficult to read without counting from D or G
I am dizzy …
If you start sight reading late in life, you will NEVER be as good as classical/jazz/studio musician/music school professionals who have been doing it since childhood. You might get good at it with a lot of hard work and practice, but you'll never reach their level.
The secret to sight reading music ---- and be really f ---- g good at it, like the pros ---- start very young, and do it ALL THE TIME. If you've ever been around symphony/classical players and jazz/big band/music school pros, and wonder how they are able to sight read so well, it's because they have been doing it seriously since childhood. They make it look easy. They also can be total A-holes towards beginners and older learning sight readers, treating you like a real dummy and making you feel really stupid. In their world you are a failure and they don't have time for you. Their world is highly competitive and full of people with giant egos who have no time for "wannabees". Starting late in life is tough. Unless you practice sight reading and play 24/7, and even then, you'lll NEVER be as good as they are.