Sunday, January 5, 2014

Second Year Piano Sight Reading Instruction

A sight reading program should be designed for students based on a level of reading that is slightly below the current repertoire level.  Second year students shouldn't be assigned music at the second grade level because these pieces are too difficult for that purpose; they aren't meant for casual study.

Most piano courses are designed around a progressive reading program, but often the rate of progression accelerates too fast for good reading. So, it helps to add books or assignments on sight reading that give supplementary easier works to read.  Additionally, sight-reading flash cards are great in individual lessons.

As the card is held, the student should quickly acknowledge the cleff signs, key signature, time signature, and ascertain the correct position on the keyboard for both hands.  The note values can be tapped before beginning to play to get the correct rhythm.  Any changes in the hand position that might happen should be noticed.  While playing the student can recite the counts out loud and look far enough ahead to keep going in tempo.  He needs to play straight through without stopping.

For more information about piano lessons in Basking Ridge, please contact Barbara Ehrlich Piano Studio.