Sight Reading Skills - Anthony Maydwell - AnthonyMaydwell.com

A Three-Pronged Approach
There are three areas that need to be worked on simultaneously for
strong sight reading skills to develop.
Guided Reading: that is, playing the same material along with the student.
Keyboard Orientation: the execution of the signs using motor skills
which are independent of the need to look at the keyboard. This means
that the eyes are free to be trained on the music hopefully allowing more
time to absorb the detail of the score. Special skills are needed to orientate
oneself at the keyboard confidently, accurately and, at the same time, playing
blind. Care must be taken so that tone and touch are not affected because
in the blind search for a key, the fingers can move irregularly, thus
interrupting the smooth movement from one note to the next.
Reading the signs: the rapid recognition of the material in the score.
Sight Reading Skills — 14
Hummel suggests that a good master accustom
a pupil to direct their eyes to the notes only, and
to find the keys by the feel of the fingers, according
to their distance from one another.
A complete theoretical and practical course of instructions
(1829)
C.P.E. Bach suggests that in order to become orientated
at the keyboard and thus make easier the
acquisition of a necessary skill at sight reading, it
is a good practice to play memorised pieces in the
dark.
Essay on the true art of playing keyboard instruments
(1753)