Sight Reading Skills - Anthony Maydwell - AnthonyMaydwell.com

Key Signatures
Failure to observe the key signature would have to be one of the most
common mistakes made in sight reading. On the page overleaf, key signatures
can be picked at random and identified within either the major or
minor key scheme. This chart is a good one to use when choosing a key for
the ‘blind’ exercises. This process reinforces learning the note names of
each scale, something pianists sometimes by-pass, relying on hand shapes
and patterns rather than actual note description.
Sight Reading Skills — 28
The students I have surveyed see the following
as the main difficulties in sight reading
(in order):
– Reading/finding the notes
– Rhythm
– Maintaining a steady tempo
– Key and accidentals
– Dynamics
– Reading chords
– The details
– The appropriate style
It was noticeable that expressive issues often
came last and in some ocassions did not rate at
all. This is confirmed when listening to students’
initial approach to sight reading. Notes
and rhythm are sometimes accurate, but little
else. Under these conditions it is no wonder
that the activity is often associated with little or
no enjoyment.