Simply so, what should I look for when sight reading?
- Observe the time signature and key signature. Look at the key signature.
- Look for tricky rhythms (dotted rhythms, triplets etc.), octave changes, and clef changes.
- Look for repeated patterns (rhythms, pitches, phrases, intervals)
- Tap out the rhythms and fingerings before playing.
- Sight-sing.
Beside above, what makes a good sight reader? Sight-reading is more than just notes and rhythm! Take a moment to look for any dynamic changes or musical direction notated within the piece. Also, pay close attention to tempo and time signatures to make sure they don't change within the song.
Then, what is a sight reading test?
In the sight-reading test, the examiner will give you a piece of music that you haven't previously seen. You'll be given up to half a minute in which to look through the music and, if you wish, try out any part of the test before you perform it for assessment.
Is sight reading necessary?
Sight-reading is an important and necessary skill for music majors. Quite often, they will be asked to learn pieces of music in a very short amount of time. The ability to sight-read is critical to the ability to function within a performance ensemble.
