Sight Reading for Pianists

Hey guys, it's James here. I'm going to talk to you briefly about sight reading, which is a part of the Rock School exams and also a very important part of being a performing pianist.

Importance of Sight Reading

Pianists, often in the rock, pop, jazz, and funk worlds, don't necessarily have as good sight reading as our classical music counterparts. However, even though a lot of the music we play is very aural-based and uses our ears, it's crucial to develop good sight reading skills.

Essential for Performance

• Music Theatre: If you want to enter the music theatre world.
• Big Band Music: Required for reading big band music.
• Session Work: Sight reading is essential for daily work in these settings.

Being proficient in sight reading means that when you show up to rehearsals with your bandmates, even if the music is complicated, you will spend less time figuring things out and more time enjoying the music.

Personal Experience

I came to sight reading quite late, and I personally felt I struggled with it at a young age. Looking back, I wish I had developed these skills much earlier; it would have made my journey smoother. Of course, you can improve your sight reading at any age, but the earlier you start, the more rewarding your musical experience will be in the future.

Challenges of Piano Sight Reading

The most difficult aspect of piano sight reading, naturally, is handling the two staves. This makes it harder than sight reading on other instruments because:

• You have two staves to look at.
• There are often chords and different lines on each stave.
• You'll encounter contrary motion and counterpoint chords.

The Incremental Process

Like all piano music, the key is to take it slow. Sight reading is an incremental process:

• Start off very simply.
• Gradually move to more complicated pieces.

If you're working through the Rock School grades, each grade presents its own challenges, gradually increasing in difficulty. Eventually, you'll be able to sight read almost anything within reason with enough practice.

The CAT TRAP Formula

I have a formula that can help, called CAT TRAP. Here are the seven components to look out for when you're about to sight read a piece of music:

1. C - Key:

   • Identify the key (e.g., F, C, G major, G minor, E minor).
   • Check the clef and the key signature for accidentals that remain consistent throughout the piece.

2. A - Articulation:

   • Determine the phrasing of the piece.
   • Look for staccato, tenuto lines, and slurs.
   • These are essential to delivering the music properly.

3. T - Tempo:

   • Understand how fast the piece should be played.
   • Recognize the effect of tempo on your performance (e.g., 50 bpm vs. 120 bpm).
   • Make note of any tempo markings indicating style, such as jazz or swing.

4. T - Time Signature:

   • Identify the number of beats in each bar.
   • Common time signatures include 4/4, 3/4, and complex signatures like 5/4 or 7/4.
   • Subdivision is key to playing the music correctly.

5. R - Repeats:

   • Be aware of repeated sections and first/second time bars.
   • Missing repeats can disrupt the flow of the music.

6. A - Accidentals:

   • These are sharps and flats not indicated in the key signature.
   • Noticing accidentals is vital for maintaining the correct tonality.

7. P - Patterns:

   • Look for shapes and patterns in the music rather than reading each note.
   • Recognizing chord shapes speeds up the recognition process.

The Key to Success

The final and most important thing about sight reading is: don't panic! Everyone starts at a beginner level, and it's entirely normal to find it challenging.

• Sight reading is an essential and useful skill for any musician.
• Start with a piece that is slightly more challenging than what you're comfortable with, and gradually increase the difficulty.

Remember!

• Sight reading is like lifting weights:
  • If you start with something too heavy, it'll be difficult. But starting a bit heavier than you're used to will help you build strength and stamina over time.

In summary, keep these principles in mind: CAT TRAP - Key, Articulation, Tempo, Time Signature, Repeats, Accidentals, Patterns, and don't panic. You'll get there eventually!