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Do you know that music sight reading skills and accompaniments skills are the two most
important skills any pianist can possess? Becoming an efficient piano or music sight reader
takes a lot of practice. There are a few rules that will help speed up and improve your sight
reading abilities.

Rule #1- Eyes are always a step ahead of hands

When your hands are playing the first beat of a measure, the eyes are already glancing at
the second beat of the same measure.

Rule #2 - Keeping a steady tempo

It's important to keep counting a steady tempo even if you miss a few notes here and there.
It you're not used to counting rhythm out loud, you can start practicing by clapping. Watch
for the smallest values of the piece. If the piece has eighth notes, then count 1& 2 &, etc.
Keep the tempo really slow in the beginning.

Rule #3 - Watch for keys

Always start a piece by knowing the key signatures. Check for the beginning and the last
note/chord. They are usually the same chord. The chord of the last note will tell you what
key it is. Once you know the key you can anticipate the black keys (sharps or flats of the
key).

Rule #4 - Interval Observation

Once you master the first three steps, learning this last step is crucial for precise note
playing. Remember there are five lines and four spaces in any sheet music. Notes are
written within lines and spaces.

Tips:
A. The distance between two notes is called an interval. For example: C to D is a 2nd; C to
E is a third; C to F is a fourth.

B. When you have two notes that are on different lines, the interval is either 3rd, 5th, 7th or
9th. If the lines are next to each other, (from line 1 to line 2, from line 2 to line 3, etc.), the
interval is a third. If the notes skip one lines (from line 1 to line 3, from line 2 to line 4,
etc.), the interval is a fifth.

C. When you have two notes that are on different spaces, the interval is also 3rd, 5th, 7th,
etc. This is because they skip a line note. If the spaces are next to each other (from space 1
to space 2, from space 2 to space 3), the interval is a 3rd. If the notes skip one space (from
space 1 to space 3, from space 2 to space 4), the interval is a fifth.

D. When you have two notes where one is a space note and the other one is a line note or
vice versa, then the interval is 2nd, 4th, 6th or 8th.

E. When you have two notes where one note is a space note (1st space) and the other note is
a line note right above the space note (2nd line), then it is a 2nd. When you have two notes
where one note is a space note (1st space), and the other note is a line note (3rd line, skip
the 2nd line), it's a 4th.
 Take a look at the following interval exercises and determine whether you can tell the
interval within 2 seconds.

You may print the sight reading exercise sheet and answer keys sheet.

Develop the habit of reading sheet music by reading intervals.

Keep your eyes on the music. Use your peripheral vision to watch your fingers. Your
fingers can learn to find the notes without your eyes. A good typist can type well without
looking at the keyboard. A good pianist can read the music without looking at the piano
keys.

If you combine the above steps and start paying attention to the intervals of any sheet music
you come across, I can almost guarantee your sight reading skills will improve within a
short period of time.