How to Speed Read Music Notes

Having the ability to read through a piece of music at first sight is a necessary skill for any advancing musician. Being able to go on stage at a jam session, or lead a worship service without having to study the pieces can be an exhilarating and enjoyable experience. By quickly scanning a score for key indicators and being able to read ahead, all musicians can be develop the ability to speed read through any piece of music.

Instructions

1. Check for the initial key signature of the piece, as well as any key changes that may happen later on.

2. Note the initial time signature of the piece, and check to see if there are any time signature changes later on in the piece.

3. Read groups of notes instead of one note at a time. Look for familiar scales and arpeggios that can be read as four or more notes at once.

4. Practice sight-singing through pieces of music to develop the inner ear. This will help to hear a piece of music as it is being sight read.

5. Develop the technical ability needed to read through intermediate to difficult level pieces written for your instrument.

6. Sight read a different piece of music everyday.

Tips & Warnings

• Practice reading different styles of music as well as music written for other instruments. Try reading music written in different clefs to develop the ability to transpose music at sight.

Resources

• Basics of reading music
• Intro to reading music