How To REALLY Improve Sight Reading | 8 ACTION STEPS

Learn how to read sheet music from an experienced piano teacher.

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Note Reading Practice

Interval Practice

Method Books
1) Piano Adventures by Faber (first set for younger beginners)
2) Piano Adventures by Faber (first set for adult beginners)
3) Piano Adventures Level 1 (2nd set for elementary players)

5 Finger Pattern Practice

Scale Practice
1) Scale Skills by Keith Snell (preparatory-level 10 series)

Theory Books (learn about concepts like intervals & 5 finger patterns; preparatory-level 10 series)

SUBSCRIBE Refine Your Playing & Teaching

Sight Reading Piano Tutorial by Heather Thompson Smits, NCTM @BRILLANTEPianoLessons
TIME STAMPS
0:00 ACTION STEP 1
1:20 ACTION STEP 2
1:56 ACTION STEP 3
2:56 ACTION STEP 4
3:58 ACTION STEP 5
4:35 ACTION STEP 6
5:17 ACTION STEP 7
6:05 ACTION STEP 8

[GalaxySpinz]

I think it is wise to start sight reading practices as soon as possible while learning piano. Practice it every time and get to know the score. Reading the score by itself without playing it helps and playing the treble and bass separately and then putting them together helps too. Get to know your piano well and spend a lot of time with it. Master your muscle memory and don't look at your hands. Don't get frustrated. It will come to you in time. Good luck!

[tfpp]

I've been a staff accompanist my entire professional career, so I say this without ego, but matter of factly -- I am an excellent sight-reader. If you really want to improve your sight-reading game, there is one general principle you want to become increasingly proficient at over time: being able to play without looking at your hands. End of story. Full stop. As a beginner student, my first teacher was wise enough to MAKE me play all my pieces like this -- she would cover my hands so I couldn't see them, keep my eyes on the sheet music, and count OUT LOUD, WHILE playing. As I got older, I made it a game to play without looking at my hands. And you can do this with repertoire you already learned. Play pieces you already know with your eyes closed, play them in the dark (turn off the lights), where a sleep mask when you play, etc. When you think about it, sight-reading is nothing more than being familiar with the topography of the keyboard, and reading rhythm in real-time. Best way to do this is to practice playing without looking at your hands. Whether it's music you're reading or music you already know, DON'T look at your hands. Learn what intervals "feel" like in physical space.

I'm 57, played thru high school then stopped. I picked it up again in 2017 and been trying every since. The ONE thing that helped me the most in "getting back on that horse" (One that I was never that good at to begin with) was sight reading. I started with an old stack of sheet music that was about two feet thick/tall. I started at the top and I played or tried to play or looked over every one of them. It took me about 2 years! I never mastered much of it, but what it taught me in sight reading was priceless. It really gave me a constant exposure to something interesting or challenging or whatever came along. I"m stil doing it now, but I'm now able to choose what I want to play. My biggest goal really was just to be able to play through an Elton John book or Billy Joel book at at least an acceptable or "intermediate" level. I have been working out of my Elton John book since 2020 when I got it and its taken me a few years of tackling. But I want to play Chopin now and other classical and its like starting all over again. Its like i never played the piano ever. HOW do I make the crossover???

[robertYTBg]

It is good to find a YouTube piano teacher that actually acknowledges how just how valuable software and modern technology can be these days. I use simply piano and love it. It is great if you can get a teacher too, I have had several for classical guitar in the past (I am in my 70's now). I love piano, but how marvelous it is these days to be able to use a keyboard and play different instruments or use backing tracks - even loop your own - for motivation, rhythm training and improvisation.

[andy_hawkins]

For me, interval recognition is the most useful thing for sight reading as that gets you through pieces quickly. No one is literally reading each note and then playing that note on the keyboard - that’s not how our brains work at this speed. The intervals also give you the feel for each section and what you should be hearing which is pretty important 🙂

[rgarlinyc]

Thank you - I learned the piano years ago but never became fully proficient as I was simply taught to master a few pieces each year to pass the exams... Now I'm relearning by myself, and I might dip into your videos too. By the way, you've been teaching for over 30 years? Amazing to think you must've started when you were just 18 months old! 😉💙

[kerrymoore]

It all boils down to linear melodic scale work (and intervals) and stacked/arpeggiated harmonic chordal function, along with rhythmic application. It’s not easy. It takes knowledge of music theory and application of that through continuous practice. Simply stated: it takes time. Like reading a book, excellent sight reading can be acquired - one “word” at a time with continual practice. Eventually, reading music and interpolating that music to an instrument will become easier. But honestly said, sight reading is a skill that is acquired only after spending enough intimate time with one’s instrument. So go practice and perform as much as you can!

[EG-hjpg]

Omg you look like you’re in your 20s that’s insane you’ve taught for over 30 years 😮 Great video btw !

[dyslexiamusic]

Thank you! I'm dyslexic and this has helped me greatly.

[adrianpaulwynne]

by far the best video I've ever seen on the subject, full of practical and detailed advice. I will be checking out the apps and your channel. Thank you

[dwfantom]

What’s impressive about your teaching method is that you dum it down or simplify it. This shows your level of knowledge! Like Einstein said, “if you can’t explain it to a 6 year old you yourself don’t know it yet.” 😄 you must have produced a lot of pianists in your teaching carrier. Brilliant! 👏🏾

[sincerelyyours]

I'm a beginning student whose first lesson was 45 years ago, but I had to quickly give it up back then and never really learned how to sight-read. Now with more time on my hands I've picked it up again, but I find that I'm back at square one and have forgotten everything I once knew. It's like music is a new language all over again. Simple things like "the Key of C Minor" (whatever that means); moving up 1/2 step; major and minor chords; practicing intervals and scales, etc. are all confusing to me. Only when I learn what these things are first can I then learn where they are on the keyboard, and then figure out how to play them. Thanks for the resources you listed - I shall be checking them out.

[chauchau]

Amazing vidoe and useful tips! Of all thins I liked most is the part that explaining your thought process when you are sight reading. It helps me get a glimpse of what I should be doing if I could do it right

[Agent.]

Hymns have truly been great for my sight reading! And, I used flash cards for myself at the beginning.

[JohnStefaniFI]

Though I don't play piano, I watched this video to get hints on reading guitar music and tabs. Thank you.

[paulsawtell]

Thankfully there were no such things as apps to worry about when I began piano lessons in the late 1960s. However I did learn to sight-read which was jolly useful as i became a pro and worked well for 45 years during which time there was a heck of a lot of sight-reading required especially in recording studios. It's all far too, long ago to recall how i conquered the SR stuff but I can say that in those days hard work and patience were recognised as worthwhile unlike today's get it now philosophy. There are no short cuts to doing music well and properly. If you want an instant thrill learn three chords and join a pop group.

[JoelBursztyn]

What a great teacher!!
I love music and unfortunately, when I was young I was too bored to do exercise so they through me away from conservatorium when I was 7 (after one year). Now I am 64 and want to get back and learn reading sheets. It seems that your method will suit me the best. I play keyboards (Kaway grand, Johannus Rembrant organ, Korg OASYS and Yamaha Tyros 5) and now I have the time to really improve by learning how to read music sheets. it seems you give me a great hope.
Thank you very much for that Video!!

[vincentnithin-nvjc]

The best way to improve sight reading is "Sight Reading"
Well said Mam. Love from India.

[cryptogeezer]

Great lesson, thanks. I wish I had discovered you earlier.

[hellogoodbye]

Ok I just found this channel and I seriously love it!!