From: dtt@mitisft.Convergent.COM (Duc Tran)
Newsgroups: rec.music.classical,rec.music.makers
Subject: sight reading in piano
Date: 20 Jul 92 21:27:52 GMT
Followup-To: rec.music.classical,rec.music.makers
Organization: Unisys Unix Systems Group, San Jose, CA

Hi Folks,

I learned classical guitar for 2 years seriously and later decide to 
switch to piano just because I can't sight read on the guitar:

I think learn to sight read will depend on the instrument. I think
piano is the EASIEST instrument to learn sigh-reading for the simple
reason: the keyboard arrangement is fixed, that is very eight white
key is the same note with an octave higher (every six for the black key.)

So I talk only the mechanical of piano sight reading:

1) First, you need to be able to regconize at least by heart all the note
   winthin the five main leger lines in the G clef and F clef. That is you 
   name automatically when you see the note without thinking. It is 
    very easy with some practice but some people can't do this.

2) Be able to identify the corresponding note on the keyboard. It is
   very simple on a piano, for example: all A is on the right
   AND inside the border of a group of 3 black key (most pianist know this!)
   ( I struggle to find a correct note on the guitar all the time )

3) The most difficult part is to be able to regconize and play with little 
   efford a standard chord and ALL its inversions (second, third, fifth..)
   This require some practice; but in piano there is a technique to 
   regconize the relation of one note to another--line/space. 
   for example, the C chord (triad) C E G: three finger on each note, and
   you see that each finger is separate by a white key in between. Look
   at C E G on the G clef, look at your finger on the keyboard; so
   all triad on the 'C major' regardless of the root note (C in this case)
   which has the same line /space will have the same physical distance
   on the keyboard.

   Key point: Line and Space technique of the piano. Look at some
   piano theory book that go into details of this technique. To me,
   this is the most useful technique for all keyboard instrument.

   Now: try to regconize the first inversion of C chord and find your 
   position on the piano. Compare line/space in the music sheet and
    your finger position on the keyboard.
    Now, apply the same principle of a different chord of a different
    root note on a different scale. They all have the same relation
    of line/space and physical position on the key board. Memorize
    how the chord look in the sheet music and memorize your finger
    position on the key board; regconize the relation.

4) Look a head while you sight-read VERY slowly; play very SLOWLY.

5) Practice, practice and practice with sight-reading; after a year or
   so you CAN be efficient of sight reading. While you play.

Conclusion: To sight reading in piano is easier than you think; 
You need to know the point of REFERENCE. 

A) From a triad or chord: Use the root note (the lowest note of the 
   group fo note) as reference, see the next higher note and calculate
   the distance (line/space relation) and find the position of it
   in the keyboard.

B) From the scale: Same principle as above, see the distance of the next
   note compared to the previous note (line/space) and find the position.
   This should become automatic of any scale. 

   I find out that learn to sight read is pretty much the same as learn
   to type. You regconize a pattern, and hit the correct keystroke.


    NOTHING CAN SUBTITUTE THE  PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE with clear
    objective.

I may be biased, but I think piano is the EASIER instrument to play,
compared to classical guitar. I can't sight read on the guitar even 
with much simpler music than my piano music sheet and I don't regret
that I make a change.



********************************


Sight reading is just one story. How you can mentally connect all the 
music note together to make a good artistic expression is another story.

PS: Please comment/critic/suggest if you think it is necessary.
Newsgroups: rec.music.classical