5 Steps to Get Students Unstuck When Sight-Reading
Being able to sight-read is a game-changer for students, giving students the confidence to start new pieces well without prior practice. But for beginners, sight-reading can feel like a frustrating foreign language & can be a major source of discouragement when it comes to at-home practice. Here are five practical steps that will help students conquer sight-reading and help them enjoy practicing at home!
In case you're wondering, yes sometimes we dress up as superheroes in our lessons LOL--I just love my students!
Step (1): Get Students’ Head in the Sight-Reading Game
Encourage students to approach sight-reading with a positivity, embracing the fact that sight-reading is a skill that is developed over time with consistent practice. It doesn't come overnight, nor should you and the student expect it to. But that doesn't mean the student can't have fun with it! Instead of tackling sight-reading the entire piece through, help your students sight-read the right hand fluently…then the left hand…then finally putting sections of it hands together.
Students mirror our attitude & mood, so if you smile through the process and encourage fun & laughter, your students will do the same! Let your student know: they've got this, & you’re there to support them!
Step (2): Map it Out
Many of my students like to hit the keys before their butt is ever fully seated on the bench! Before they dive into playing, take a moment with them to map out the piece and analyze its key elements such as: key signatures, time signatures, tempo markings, dynamics—anything that might make them scratch their head later. This preliminary analysis will give students a heads-up on what to expect and mentally prepare them for the sections ahead.
But I get it, "analyzing" a piece doesn't exactly have the fun appeal…unless you bring in COLOR! Invite your students to color-code their pieces so that they can start to see how the piece functions as a whole. We follow this color-code in our studio as soon as we receive our assigned pieces for the National Federation Festival exam:
Pink - Dynamics
Orange - Melodic Patterns
Blue - Accidentals
Green - Articulation Markings
Step (3): Slow & Steady Wins the Race
Remind your student of the importance of this infamous phrase! Students tend to want to start pieces out at the tempo that they hear you playing it at, but the sight-reading journey should begin at a much more comfortable, & realistic pace. The goal at the beginning is always rhythm accuracy VS speed.
As your students get comfortable with their piece at a learning tempo, invite them to gradually increase the tempo. Let them know that they don't need to worry about making mistakes! Guide them with your example by staying calm, encouraging a steady rhythm, and pushing forward with them.
Step (4): Break it Down - Practice Blocks
Sometimes we can actually be the ones to blame for making sight-reading scary. I know I’m guilty of occasionally blurting out, "Uh-oh, a tricky section!” As a result, my students’ heart rates increase & they stumble through the section - and get frustrated at times when they can’t complete it successfully. Although we don’t mean to invoke anxiety, we need to be mindful of the messages we are sending.
When a technical section does appear, break it down into smaller, more achievable practice blocks & steps. Invite your students to try the right hand only through the section several times…then the left hand several times…then slowly put it together paying attention to fingerings, rhythms, and note accuracy. Once your student feels more confident with a practice-block, have them move onto the next block. Finally, slowly integrate those simplified practice-blocks back into the entire piece.
Step (5): Give Students the Space to Succeed
With almost 2 decades worth of experience teaching piano to students of all ages, skill levels, & learning needs, I’ve noticed that MOST students have no clue when it comes to sight-reading & at-home practice Time and time again, I would watch my students play a piece decently in lesson, only to struggle through it all over again doing the next week’s lesson (even if they “practiced” throughout the week)!
From watching this pattern over the years, I realized that I was to blame for helping my students too much during their lesson. I didn’t give them the space to think for themselves, struggle through their questions, & eventually reap the satisfaction of successfully working a piece on their own. All of this came to a head when I implemented group lessons in my studio. Once I stepped away, & let the student direct their own learning, my students finally started practicing effectively & progress happened faster than ever. Students need space in order to succeed.
Want your students to REALLY excel at sight-reading?
If you LOVED this article and you would like to explore how to REALLY LEVEL UP your students’ sight reading skills, while simultaneously 2X-3X your income, cutting your schedule by 50%, AND giving your students an experience worth RAVING about…
Then JOIN ME for a free virtual masterclass ((that I ONLY teach twice per year!))
Hi, I’m Jess!
For years, I was working late hours, during nap times, etc.…I did it ALL to squeeze in as many possible students in order to increase my income.
But, it didn’t leave me any time for myself, or my family. And even with all the hours I was working, our budget still felt tight.
In 2023, I decide that group lessons could be the solution I desperately needed. So I converted 100% of my studio to groups, DOUBLED my income, and cut my schedule in HALF.
In The Group Conversion Collective: 1:1 to Group in 60 Days, you will learn the EXACT strategies to transition to group lessons in the SIMPLEST way possible, so you can finally double your income, cut your teaching schedule in half, & give your students an experience worth referring their family & friends to!
Learn how I break down the transition to group lessons in the EASIEST way possible, so you can finally take the leap & avoid feeling over scheduled, financially capped, & just plain exhausted.
Hope to see you there! :)
