15 Piano Sight Reading Tips That Actually Work

This is the #1 rule. If you're working on Grade 5 pieces, sight read Grade 2-3. You should be able to play through without stopping. If you're figuring out notes one by one, it's too hard.

When you make a mistake, keep going. Don't stop to correct it. Don't go back. In real situations (accompanying, ensembles), stopping isn't an option. Train this habit from the start.

Your eyes should always be 1-2 beats ahead of what your hands are playing. This is the key to fluent reading. Force yourself to look forward, even if it feels uncomfortable at first.

Instead of naming each note (C, E, G), notice the distance between notes. 'Up a third, down a step, same note.' This is how fluent readers process music.

Spend 30 seconds scanning the piece before playing. Check key signature, time signature, tempo, and tricky spots. This is exactly what ABRSM exams give you time for.

Consistency beats intensity. 10 minutes daily is far more effective than 2 hours once a week. Your brain needs regular exposure to new material.

Scales, arpeggios, chord shapes, alberti bass - learn to see these at a glance. When you see a C major arpeggio, don't read C-E-G. See 'C major arpeggio' and play it automatically.

A metronome forces you to keep tempo and not stop. Start slower than you think you need. It's better to play accurately at 60 BPM than stumble at 90.

The point of sight reading is to read, not memorize. Never play the same piece twice for sight reading practice. Always use new material.

You won't play everything perfectly. That's okay. Sight reading is about getting the overall shape, rhythm, and flow - not perfection. Let go of perfectionism.

If you can only get one thing right, make it the rhythm. Wrong notes with right rhythm sounds better than right notes with wrong rhythm. Keep the pulse.

If coordinating both hands is overwhelming, spend some time sight reading each hand alone. This builds confidence with each clef. But don't do this exclusively.

If you have to think about which notes are sharp or flat, you're wasting mental bandwidth. Know all key signatures instantly. This is non-negotiable.

You don't need to stare directly at each note. Your peripheral vision can take in more than you think. Let your eyes relax and see the bigger picture.

Use a tool like MasterPiano that shows which notes you played correctly. Immediate feedback helps you identify patterns in your mistakes and improve faster.