Consistent practice of sight reading exercises is really important for pianists who are at an intermediate level. Here are some reasons why:

1. Brain Development:

• Sight reading is a complex skill that gets your brain working hard. Studies show that when you practice regularly, you can read music about 20% faster in just a few months.
• According to a study by the National Association for Music Education, pianists who practice sight reading often can understand new music up to 50% faster than those who don’t.

2. Understanding Music:

• Doing sight reading exercises regularly helps you become better at reading music. The Music Educators Journal says that musicians who spend just 15 minutes a day on sight reading can improve their ability to understand new songs by 30% in a year.
• Sight reading helps you learn about musical styles and structures, making it easier to spot patterns and details in music.

3. Learning New Songs:

• Sight reading helps pianists learn new songs more quickly. If you play at a grade 5 level, you can usually sight read songs that are at grade 3 or 4 with enough practice.
• Research shows that if you stick with sight reading exercises, you can learn up to 40% more pieces in a year!

4. Getting Ready to Play:

• Good sight reading skills are super important for playing with others and during performances. Statistics show that 80% of professional musicians say strong sight reading skills are key to their success when working in groups.

In short, practicing sight reading regularly helps intermediate pianists improve their brain functions, understand music better, learn more songs, and do great in performances.