Sight-Reading Reminders

Hello all,

It has been quite some time since my last post, but for the good reason of having many wonderful opportunities to perform at least once a week across Indiana and Pennsylvania.  I often share my performance experiences with my students and recently shared one with a student of mine.

 

This student had been preparing for an audition for a scholarship to study privately and perform in a large ensemble while at University and was most stressed about the sight-reading which would be a component of the audition. I explained to her that sight-reading is a common and necessary skill to work on and just like tonguing or transposition it had to be practiced.

 

Case in point, I was recently performing principal horn with the Anderson Symphony and half my music was accidentally sent to a wrong address. As a result, I only had a few minutes to prepare music that was often in difficult key signatures or with unorthodox arrangements. In that case, the ability to listen to the works in advance was a great help and the concert went quite well.  But it gave me an opportunity to give this student some pointers.

 

·      Don't be caught unaware. The most panic-filled moments for my students usually occur when they are playing in new transpositions, unfamiliar styles (jazz, show tunes) or in keys that do not show up in standard classical repertory. I strongly advise students (especially on their summer sessions or breaks) to fill these gaps. Practice your scales, especially in patterns that have some variation like the Standley Routine. Transpose beautiful music like a Concone study or Gounod melody. Try your hand at Jazz with Jamey Abersold charts or reading a friend’s jazz band music. The reality is as a freelancer or young student, most chances to play with a professional group are going to be pops shows, and most typical music degrees do not address this type of playing. While I know it's hard to cover everything you need to know but some familiarity is better than none!

·      Have a plan. Usually when we face a “scary” sight-reading opportunity we often panic and have a hard time taking in what is on the page. Taking 30 seconds to strategize will save you. Always start with checking the key signature, time signature and tempo. These are too often neglected. Next, do a quick scan through the music and find the busiest moment. This will be a good method to determine your tempo. Often candidates start too fast and cannot play the whole excerpt at a consistent speed. When the timing goes, so do most other elements.  It is better to play a little slowler and have more consistency and accuracy. When you feel in control of the pulse, you feel more in control of the situation.

·      Ask why. Ask yourself why this is requested – is it the accidentals, timing, style etc? Knowing that can help you know where to put your priorities.

·      A pencil is your friend! When you have a few minutes to prepare, do everything you can to help yourself.  Mark accidentals that carry through, find opportunities to breathe, etc.

·      Don’t panic! My student has been much more successful with sight-reading in recent weeks because she realizes that panicking is only detrimental and that it gets in her way. She also realizes that sight-reading is not a life and death experience! When she stays calm and realizes that she can tackle many elements on the page, she is able to handle the more difficult aspects with a clear head.

·      Remember: you control your horn-it does not control you! How often do you “wait to see what happens” when you first go through a passage you have not played before or run through that day? Doubt and uncertainty are the enemies, and if you go with the mantra “wrong and strong” you are usually right more often than you expect. Another student likes the idea of being the “left shark.” For anyone that saw the Super Bowl half time show, you saw Katy Perry’s left shark backup dancer moving with spunk and energy and gusto. Now that shark is revered even though he didn't seem to have a clue of what he was supposed to be doing! Had he cowered, the reactions would have been far different.

·      With all these ideas in mind, go into your study book, pick a random page and read the first study on it. See what you can do!