Welcome to Melody Piano

There are many different methods for teaching sight reading.  There are ways to teach a child to gradually get used to sight reading, there are ways to work with the piano, and bring the grand staff into the equation much later on, and there are ways to bring the grand staff directly into repertoire from the start. 

 

I think that it is important to keep your standards high as a music educator.  I do not believe that you should have unrealistic goals for your students, although, I think that it is very important to be aware of the capabilities of the human mind.  All of my students are extremely unique in their own way, and also very intelligent individuals. 

 

Out of all of the elements that are involved in learning how to play the piano, I think that sight reading is of the utmost importance.  If a musician is able to sight read, they are able to adjust to any situation. 

 

When starting with a young student; I like to bring the grand staff to their attention immediately.  I feel that when I do this, it keeps the bar high and the student’s level of concentration right there with it.  It is imperative that my students are well aware of how the grand staff correlates to the piano.  If this is implemented straight away, I believe that it conditions the young mind to grow. 

 

What are your thoughts about introducing sight reading to young students, and beginners?

When beginning to learn how to sight read, it is understandable that an individual can become overwhelmed and frustrated.  It is just like learning anything else, really.  The reason that it seems so hard is because it is fresh, and new.  If you let yourself become overwhelmed by it, it can easily push you away from it. 

The best way to build your sight reading skills is in the basics.  I think that it is very important to always remember to rely on what you may know already.  I like to think of the grand staff as the "map" of the piano.  When teaching someone to begin sight reading, I start by going over the basics.  Sarting with helping someone understand how the grand staff and the piano correlate directly with each other.  First thing is first,  it is imperitive that you know where the notes on the piano are before you begin to read music. 

The biggest tip that I can give you about the grand staff;  Take a copy of a grand staff,  and turn it on its side.  Make sure that the treble clef is on the right, and the bass clef is on the left.  The reason for this exersize is to see how it really is set up just like the piano.  The treble clef is also on the right side of the piano, and the bass cleff is on the left side of the piano.

What are Treble and Bass Clef?

The treble clef is a symbol that indicates a higher pitch will be played to the musician.  This higher pitch will always be "UP" on the piano.  "UP" on the piano is to the RIGHT. 

The bass clef is a symbol that indicates a lower pitch  will be played to the musician.  This lower pitch will always be "DOWN" on the piano.  "DOWN" on the piano is to the LEFT. 

 

For any questions that you have about beginning to sight read,  please contact me.  I would be glad to help you.  I am also offering an online sight reading course throught the Ashbury Music Hall.  For more online lesson details, just shoot me an e-mail.  Melodypiano.net@Gmail.com