Why Should You Add Sight Reading to Your Piano Practice?

Adding sight reading to your piano practice can be tough, especially for players who are getting better. Here are some reasons why it’s challenging and how you can make it easier:

1. Reading Music Can Be Hard: As you improve, the music gets trickier. You have to understand complicated rhythms, dynamics (how loud or soft the music should be), and different playing styles all at once. This can feel really overwhelming, especially when you see strange key signatures or fast tempos.

   • What to Do: Take it step by step. Break the music into smaller parts. Start by practicing the rhythm first, then the melody, and finally add the harmonies. This slow approach can make it feel less scary and easier to handle.

2. So Much to Process: When you sight read, you need to pay attention to a lot of things at once, like notes, rhythms, finger positions, and dynamics. For many players, managing all these parts at the same time can be frustrating. It's easy to think you’re not getting any better, which is discouraging.

   • What to Do: Start with simpler pieces. Look for easier versions or just focus on playing the melody at first. As you get more comfortable with sight reading, you can gradually pick more challenging music.

3. Not Enough Time or Motivation: Many musicians feel they don’t have enough time for sight reading because they want to play music they love more. Sight reading can feel boring compared to the fun of playing favorite songs.

   • What to Do: Make sight reading a part of your warm-up. Spend just 10-15 minutes at the beginning of your practice session reading new music. This way, it feels less like a chore and more like a fun activity.

4. Worrying About Mistakes: Many players fear making mistakes while sight reading. It can be embarrassing to trip over notes or rhythms, which can make you lose confidence.

   • What to Do: Change how you think about mistakes. See them as chances to learn instead of failures. Keep a steady pace, and if you make a mistake, keep playing instead of stopping. It’s important to build up your confidence so you can keep going.

Adding sight reading to your daily practice is super important for becoming a better piano player, even though it can be hard. By tackling these challenges, you can grow and improve as a musician!