Super Sight-Reading Secrets - Softcover

Howard Richman

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0961596309 ISBN 13: 9780961596309

Publisher: Sound Feelings Pub, 1986

Synopsis

The Super Sight-Reading Secrets book has provided the answers to sight-reading problems for thousands of pianists and keyboardists! This self-study method teaches sight-readers how to increase their visual perception, and keyboard orientation. Specifically, the drills and exercises teach how to look ahead and to play any note on the keyboard without looking at their hands.

About this title

About the Author

Howard Richman is a pianist, composer and educator. He developed the sight-reading program originally for himself and has perfected it over a ten-year period. He has a B.A. from UCLA in piano performance and an M.F.A. (Master Fine Arts) degree from California Institute of the Arts, where he also taught on the faculty for three years. Mr. Richman is available for sight-reading workshops in your area.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Sight-Read Any Music! Ten Amazing Free Tips.

1 Develop Your "Relative" Sense of Touch. Acquire the skill of playing so that you don't need to look down at your hands. Without looking at the keyboard, glide your hands so you feel the two and three black keys (like Braille.) When you need a C, D, or E, feel for the "2s." When you need an F, G, A, or B, feel for the "3s."

2 Develop Your "Absolute" Sense of Touch. Always sit in the same place. Middle "D" is recommended because it creates a symmetrical pattern in both directions.

3 Practice Finger Technique Without Looking at Your Hands. A creative way to do this is to play your scales and arpeggios in the dark. This will add confidence to your sense of touch.

4 Learn the Four Groups of the Lines and Spaces: Lines in the Treble "E G B D F" Lines in the Bass "G B D F A" Spaces in the Treble "F A C E" Spaces in the Bass "A C E G"

5 Practice Only the Rhythmic Information. In a composition you are working on, ignore the correct pitches.

6 Practice Only the Pitch and Fingering Information. In a composition you are working on, ignore the correct rhythm.

7 Play Easy Pieces up to Tempo. Force yourself to keep going no matter what. Don't worry about mistakes. This helps you to look ahead.

8 Play Difficult Pieces Super Slowly. Don't dare make even one mistake. This helps to develop accuracy.

9 Look For Patterns in Music. Don't be afraid to look way ahead for a second just so you can anticipate what will be easy or difficult. Patterns are easy. If you detect a pattern then you can devote your concentration to other things.

10 Study Music Theory. Professional sight-readers never read every note! They get a sense of the overall chord and "fill-in" the blanks. With a solid knowledge of music theory, this becomes natural and immediate.

The above tips were prepared by Howard Richman and are offered for free as a courtesy. They are excerpted from his bestselling book, Super Sight-Reading Secrets: An Innovative, Step-By Step Program for Musical Keyboard Players of All Levels.

Edition details

• Publisher: Sound Feelings Pub
• Publication date: 1986
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0961596309
• ISBN 13: 9780961596309
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 48