I realized that my sight-reading was developing at a snail's pace and I wasn't sure whether I could remedy this at all--you know that whole question of whether good sight readers are born or made. However, I decided that if I were looking at colourful books with larger-sized print and simpler notation, I might be less reluctant to read a text. Less anxious, you know.
So on June 29, 2016 I bought three books: Alfred's Basic Piano Course Levels 2 & 3, Alfred's Level 4, and Piano Adventures Sight Reading Book Level 2A.
I got a long way through Alfred's 2 & 3 and noticed such an improvement in my reading that I also got Piano Adventures Lesson Book Level 2A, finished that and the Sight Reading one (2A2B) and have moved on to Alfred's Level 4.
It turns out good sight readers are made! If I can improve this much in three weeks, that just about settles the question. I find the texts I'm working on in JT5 (Turkish March, Godard's Chopin, even Butterfly) a lot easier to read now, but I'm not finished with my remediation yet.
(Update: Actually I was working on the Level 2B sight reading book, but got confused and consequently bought another copy of 2B from Amazon. Only recognised this after the books got delivered. When I tried to return it, Amazon refunded my money but said I didn't actually have to return it. Free book! Screenshot below.)
It turns out good sight readers are made! If I can improve this much in three weeks, that just about settles the question. I find the texts I'm working on in JT5 (Turkish March, Godard's Chopin, even Butterfly) a lot easier to read now, but I'm not finished with my remediation yet.
I am fully committed to spending the summer doing this. Tomorrow (July 25) Amazon will deliver 8 more of these books to finish the Piano Adventure series (just the lesson and sight reading books, but still). I checked out some online samples of the books, and the Piano Adventure series' fifth book ends with Burgmuller's Ballade. This song falls about a third of the way through the John Thompson Third Grade Book. So I'm hoping (against all hope!) that by the time I get to the end of that Piano Adventures Level 5 book I'll be able to comfortably sight-read that entire John Thompson Third Grade text (and all the ones before it, which I had as a child and hope I'll be able to find in the bookshelves when I head home in about 10 days.) This I will do... and move through the entire series again reviewing and reading through the pieces.
This is something I'll be focusing on for the next few months, as I've also decided to slow down my progress through the John Thompson books. I'm still working on Papillon, Turkish March, Sonata in F minor, and Menuetto along with Godard's Chopin, which I've just begun. In fact, I'm planning to return to JT's Third Grade Book and re-learn a few pieces. I hope to play them with the newfound technical skills I've since acquired and, consequently, at a higher level of competence. In the mean time, I'll keep working on technique. I've been doing this quite diligently since September 2015, but now I'll stop trying to gain speed/dexterity and work instead on tonal quality at the speeds I've already attained. I found videos of an amazing teacher online who requires a certain tone from her students, and I would like to emulate it.
July 29, 2016 Update Today I sight-read Massenet's Melody with alarming ease! And just one month after beginning this programme on June 29! My rhythm was a little wonky, but the rather weird and complicated rhythm is one of the song's defining characteristics, after all. And I think I've got it now. But the note reading was solid and forthcoming, and that's what I usually have problems with. I'm so stoked! Nevertheless... I will not abandon my proposed regimen. In fact, I'll stick to it with even more determination now. And to prove it, my books have arrived and I've already started tearing into the Piano Adventures Sight Reading Level 3A, which is why I forgot to add it to the lot pictured below. (It was on the piano's music stand.)
It's happening. I'm getting better at reading. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!!!!!
Sept. 14, 2016
Summer of reading continues. Finished up Piano Adventures Lesson and Sight Reading Books 3A and am now well into 3B. Also found John Thompson's First and Second Grade books on my shelf (as I had hoped) and am through the first.
July 29, 2016 Update Today I sight-read Massenet's Melody with alarming ease! And just one month after beginning this programme on June 29! My rhythm was a little wonky, but the rather weird and complicated rhythm is one of the song's defining characteristics, after all. And I think I've got it now. But the note reading was solid and forthcoming, and that's what I usually have problems with. I'm so stoked! Nevertheless... I will not abandon my proposed regimen. In fact, I'll stick to it with even more determination now. And to prove it, my books have arrived and I've already started tearing into the Piano Adventures Sight Reading Level 3A, which is why I forgot to add it to the lot pictured below. (It was on the piano's music stand.)
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| basic, I know... |
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| but very very helpful |
Summer of reading continues. Finished up Piano Adventures Lesson and Sight Reading Books 3A and am now well into 3B. Also found John Thompson's First and Second Grade books on my shelf (as I had hoped) and am through the first.
