This is *fantastic*. I've searched for materials like this on the internet and various sites, and there are just so many recommendations, and they are inconsistent. After having watched your channel for around a year, and enjoying it tremendously, I feel like I have a starting point. Thanks so much for all of your work and making learning about piano interesting and fun!
Thank you so much for this helpful video!!❤ I’ve been playing piano for more than 4 years, but I mostly lean by ear. Now I think it is the time that I should get to learn notes seriously
Paul Harris is pretty good if you're just starting out. However, it's wise to mix it up with music from other sources as it can get montonous, in my opinion, at times. Great video, prof.
I wish some of Paul Harris's stuff wasn't so juvenile at times. That's what I hate about sight reading at the lowest levels. It's almost as undignifying as playing Mary Had a Little Lamb
I'm glad that you proposed hymn book. That's what I use. I just go through the book and try to play some that I like or that I don't even know to see how they sound. Sometimes I get totally obliterated by parts that are I guess more suited for Organs or Octopus... It helps me find the next piece that I will pratice and add to my repertoire.
Becoming a good sight reader is one of my main goals. I try to sight read at least 20-30 minutes a day. I hope I will be able to see progress. It’s the hardest thing about my practice routine.
Very good suggestion from Prof Piano. Do you have online classes for sight reading.I would like to join if you have one Prof.Thanks.Yes Paul Harris is good.
Another good series of graded books are the “getting to grade” series by Hal Leonard. There are about 30 pieces in each book, from all eras, including lots of modern music, so you get to read a variety of stuff. Lots of lesser known pieces but also things like fur Elise, which is in the grade 5 book. Only goes up to grade 5 though unfortunately.
It really depends on what you are looking for and your learning style. I have had a lot of luck assigning some of my students the Paul Harris books. But other students do better by simply working their way through a repertoire book that is at the right level for them and gradually increasing the level of difficulty. For online resources, I highly recommend the sight reading method for Piano Marvel. Here's my affiliate link to receive a small discount: pianomarvel.com/?promoCode=Prof
@@ThePianoProfKateBoyd Thanks for the offer. If I wanted to achieve results faster, would you recommend Piano Marvel over the Read Ahead app? Lastly and sorry if I digress, what would be your best book recommendation for music theory and harmony? I’m looking for an easy-to-understand reference that’s geared towards late-intermediate to advanced pianists. Something that I can read from time to time to improve my musicality.
I'm not familiar with that book, but I just looked it up and it appears to consist of 4-part chorales by Bach, arranged in progressive order. Reading 4-part harmony in hymn or chorale texture can be very helpful at improving one's sightreading.
You have to learn to sight-read first before you actually sight-read. Sight-reading is a delicate combination of visual, aural, tactile-kinesthetic (finger, hand, wrist, forearm, and whole arm movement) senses to perform the act accurately. Visual and tactile-kinesthetic work in tandem with aural acting as the guide when reading the music. The knowledge of piano geography plays an important part. Without it you will not know where to place the fingers or hands. Acquired knowledge in subjects like theory, harmony, and counterpoint helps enlarge the horizons and scope of music. Don't forget solfeggio. The only real subject that deals with the true learning of musicianship. These have to be nourished and constantly worked upon. When ready to start learning to sight-read, forget all those books at first. They are too advanced. Start with simple tasks such as learning to know what fingers play what keys by touch, ex. (first and second), then memorize what it felt like to play those intervals. Reinforcement. Pick a key (C Major). Pick an interval (second). Pick two fingers. Ex 1st and 2nd. Go up the scale starting with middle C with only these fingers then play these intervals. CD-DE-EF-FG-GA-AB-BC and then down the scale CB-BA-AG-GF-FE-ED-DC. Right hand. Melodically and harmonically. Then transpose to another key. BTW NEVER look at the hands for any reason and BTW all the books mentioned in this video are excellent but not for budding sight-readers. Not even the beginning method books can be of use at first. My position is that until the day when a person at the piano can combine the use of Visual, Aural, and tactile-Kinesthetic skills, true sight-reading will never be accomplished. Did I mention muscle-memory. That will be for another comment page.
I can’t agree with you more. I’m at early intermediate level with repertoire and find sight reading difficult with the suggested books. Now I’m learning sight singing daily hope this helps in the long run.
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Watch next: Piano SIGHT READING 🎹: Don't Make These 4 Mistakes! th-cam.com/video/5q0xKvcx90o/w-d-xo.html
This is *fantastic*. I've searched for materials like this on the internet and various sites, and there are just so many recommendations, and they are inconsistent. After having watched your channel for around a year, and enjoying it tremendously, I feel like I have a starting point. Thanks so much for all of your work and making learning about piano interesting and fun!
Thanks for your very kind words! Glad it was helpful! Good luck with your sight reading!
Thank you so much for this helpful video!!❤ I’ve been playing piano for more than 4 years, but I mostly lean by ear. Now I think it is the time that I should get to learn notes seriously
You can do it! Good luck!
Paul Harris is pretty good if you're just starting out. However, it's wise to mix it up with music from other sources as it can get montonous, in my opinion, at times. Great video, prof.
Thanks!
I wish some of Paul Harris's stuff wasn't so juvenile at times. That's what I hate about sight reading at the lowest levels. It's almost as undignifying as playing Mary Had a Little Lamb
I'm glad that you proposed hymn book. That's what I use. I just go through the book and try to play some that I like or that I don't even know to see how they sound. Sometimes I get totally obliterated by parts that are I guess more suited for Organs or Octopus... It helps me find the next piece that I will pratice and add to my repertoire.
Good luck!
Thank you so much! I was waiting for a video like this one. I will check out Keith Snell's books
Awesome!
This video is great! I will definitely come back to it.
Great! Glad it's helpful!
Becoming a good sight reader is one of my main goals. I try to sight read at least 20-30 minutes a day. I hope I will be able to see progress. It’s the hardest thing about my practice routine.
Good luck!
Real books for the win!
This is so helpful! Thank you.
You're so welcome! Glad you're here!
You are a treasure trove of knowledge!
Thanks for watching! 😊
Very good suggestion from Prof Piano. Do you have online classes for sight reading.I would like to join if you have one Prof.Thanks.Yes Paul Harris is good.
I don't have any online classes but here's a link to sign up for a coaching session with me: thepianoprof.com/consultation/
Another good series of graded books are the “getting to grade” series by Hal Leonard. There are about 30 pieces in each book, from all eras, including lots of modern music, so you get to read a variety of stuff. Lots of lesser known pieces but also things like fur Elise, which is in the grade 5 book. Only goes up to grade 5 though unfortunately.
Thanks for this info - I'll check it out!! 😊
Hello Kate, thanks for these materials! May I ask which in the graded repertoire series is your most favorite / recommended?
It really depends on what you are looking for and your learning style. I have had a lot of luck assigning some of my students the Paul Harris books. But other students do better by simply working their way through a repertoire book that is at the right level for them and gradually increasing the level of difficulty.
For online resources, I highly recommend the sight reading method for Piano Marvel. Here's my affiliate link to receive a small discount: pianomarvel.com/?promoCode=Prof
@@ThePianoProfKateBoyd Thanks for the offer. If I wanted to achieve results faster, would you recommend Piano Marvel over the Read Ahead app?
Lastly and sorry if I digress, what would be your best book recommendation for music theory and harmony? I’m looking for an easy-to-understand reference that’s geared towards late-intermediate to advanced pianists. Something that I can read from time to time to improve my musicality.
Great video! Thank you very much. I would like to know what is your opinion on the Book "Sight Reading and Harmony" by Dr. Cory Hall?
I'm not familiar with that book, but I just looked it up and it appears to consist of 4-part chorales by Bach, arranged in progressive order. Reading 4-part harmony in hymn or chorale texture can be very helpful at improving one's sightreading.
You have to learn to sight-read first before you actually sight-read. Sight-reading is a delicate combination of visual, aural, tactile-kinesthetic (finger, hand, wrist, forearm, and whole arm movement) senses to perform the act accurately. Visual and tactile-kinesthetic work in tandem with aural acting as the guide when reading the music. The knowledge of piano geography plays an important part. Without it you will not know where to place the fingers or hands. Acquired knowledge in subjects like theory, harmony, and counterpoint helps enlarge the horizons and scope of music. Don't forget solfeggio. The only real subject that deals with the true learning of musicianship. These have to be nourished and constantly worked upon. When ready to start learning to sight-read, forget all those books at first. They are too advanced. Start with simple tasks such as learning to know what fingers play what keys by touch, ex. (first and second), then memorize what it felt like to play those intervals. Reinforcement. Pick a key (C Major). Pick an interval (second). Pick two fingers. Ex 1st and 2nd. Go up the scale starting with middle C with only these fingers then play these intervals. CD-DE-EF-FG-GA-AB-BC and then down the scale CB-BA-AG-GF-FE-ED-DC. Right hand. Melodically and harmonically. Then transpose to another key. BTW NEVER look at the hands for any reason and BTW all the books mentioned in this video are excellent but not for budding sight-readers. Not even the beginning method books can be of use at first. My position is that until the day when a person at the piano can combine the use of Visual, Aural, and tactile-Kinesthetic skills, true sight-reading will never be accomplished. Did I mention muscle-memory. That will be for another comment page.
Thanks!
I can’t agree with you more. I’m at early intermediate level with repertoire and find sight reading difficult with the suggested books. Now I’m learning sight singing daily hope this helps in the long run.
Would be interested in your thoughts on Sight Reading Factory?
That's coming up in next week's video, when I do an overview of online sightreading resources! 😊