Group 2
One of the most valued skills in music is having the ability to sightread with ease. That is because it aids in so many things: learning music quickly, being able to play with friends/colleagues on minimal practice time, and most importantly, being able to evaluate a new piece and its possibilities!
Join Leann as she leads a new Two Week Intensive designed to improve your sightreading through focused advice, tips, exercises, and more! Letās start playing NEW music!
- Course Period: October 17th - 28th
- Class Size: max. 4 Groups Ć” 10 Participants
- Optional check-In via Zoom: October 24th at 3pm Pacific time!
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89265945226?pwd=NS9iTEd0aFJ2ME03TUs1Y2tTaExYZz09
Assignment 1
Assignment 2
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Thanks for this instruction. I have never thought about it. I always took a score and played. I have to find something, I have never played before. Very interesting.
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Hi Leann! I choose a 3. movement of a Haydn Sonata. Never played before. The most difficult part for me is the change from e-minor to e-major and also the changes of the clefs in the left hand. Scales are also difficult because of the unknown fingering. I have some in the score, what is really helpful. Here my question: you put some fingerings in the score, before you will play it? LG Kerstin
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Kerstin awesome job! Usually with scalar passages, I try to identify the primary key(s) that the passage is usingā¦ that gives me a basis for what scale fingerings I might use. Thatās why practicing scales is so important to Sightreadingā¦. Having all those fingering patterns in motor memory ready to go!
You can also break up scalar passages into smaller sections. For example, if you have a long string of scalar measures, choose select beats to rest so that you have a second to think (and possible reset your fingering) before continuing.
It is definitely not wrong to put in a fingering or two but, in general, you wonāt have enough time to put in fingerings or read them when playing through for the first timeā¦.. so only put in one or two absolutely necessary ālandmarksā. :)
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Played Haydn today. Left hand was more difficult than I thought. https://youtu.be/92U-s5tTD_Q
LG KerstinIs there anybody else in group 2?
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Kerstin Hi Kerstin! Your sight reading is so good!!
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Kerstin I'm not in Group 2, by the way, just visiting :)
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Kerstin Sure you havenāt played this before??
That was an awesome performance! Thanks for sharing your process. -
Adena Franz Hi Adena! Yes I am sure. I donāt know why I can do it, but I have had never problems with it. My problems are to get a piece in my mind and stage fever like hell.
So if I have a lot of work and wonāt practice seriously I take a score and play what ever comes. Have a nice week.
Do you choose a piece you will play? -
Kerstin Wow!.. I am totally untrained ( no lessons at all).. quick q.. did you just analyze the music like the professor in the instruction video? and was this first time playing - after analysis ? Possibly a totally newbie question. I have taken the very long road so far.. i.e. figure out measure by measure -then memorize .. ( can play Bach prelude in C..and some very simple pieces only).. but want to learn how to really sight read.. hence the q... thanks a lot in advance.
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Peter William Hi Peter!
I am playing piano since 1976 and studied piano in the late 80th. So I played a lot. Yes I analyzed the piece like the instruction has told, but normally I donāt analyze the piece. I look on the measure and in what major or minor the piece is written. And than I play and if itās too difficult I leave something out.
I didnāt specifically learn it. If you want to learn, I can think it over and can tell you my ideas about it.
Maybe you can send little piece, so I know from where you start.
Have a nice day. -
Peter William when just starting out on piano, you will need to āsimplifyā the score even further. My beginning students at Juilliard would simplify the score to simply the melody and maybe one or two notes in the LH when first learning sight-reading. Start small and the skill will develop :)
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Kerstin
Hi Kerstin
Thanks for your note. Apologies I am very very far from your level. In college a physics colleague of mine showed me the mapping between keys and notes in one afternoon on his Steinway and proceeded to show me the construction of major scales and quickly introduced me to some Bach and Beethoven (Fur elise ) all in about an hour and gave me his beginning Piano books. (John Schaum - red book) .. In grad school here I listened a lot but never really learnt to play at all but would play in some churches when no one was there. :-) ... 10 years ago I bought a Yamaha Clavinova.. and have started trying the long road..( deconstruct measure by measure -very slow .. not musical at all.. ) .. I only play at home -mostly when no one is around.. Here is a recording below. It was not sight read..Was given about 5 mins warning ( Christmas tree was about to brought down). Came rushing down and recorded..But it is not true sight reading - as it is mostly memorized..
In Dec.. I discovered Tonebase by chance and became a lifetime member .. Now I am attempting to understand music theory ...and basics from a total beginner standpoint..
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Leann Osterkamp r
Hello Dr. Osterkamp. Thank you! for your note.. I will try the analysis and simplify method.
Do you recommend any beginning books on sight reading ? Something that can get me to play at least Schubert's Ave Maria and pieces of the complexity of Chopin op 72 #1 ( Nocturne ) ..Thanks in advance
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Peter William āA Dozen a Dayā is a great beginnerās resource for learning piano foundations :)
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Leann Osterkamp
Thank you ! I will get this book soon.
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@Kerstin Youāre fortunate to have this innate ability. Time helps getting a piece into oneās mind. Iām in group 3. I have struggled with sight reading for several years. Itās about recognizing patterns, amongst other things. As for āstage fever like hell,ā I can relate (off subject here). I sweat, my brain freezes, and I absolutely rely on all the kinds of memory Iāve used to practice the piece.
