How to help music students with sightreading

Sightreading is an essential life skill for all musicians and is far too important to be considered chiefly as an examination requirement. Only too often, however, it is put to one side until exams are imminent, leaving students not only unprepared for those tests, but also at a disadvantage when they take part in other musical activities.

As a past member of the Associated Board examiners’ panel I have been on the receiving end of poor sightreading from every instrument. Many potentially good performances resulted in disappointing exam marks due to a general lack of preparation and experience, which resulted in poor rhythm and irregular pulse, forgotten accidentals and a lack of shape and continuity.

Playing at sight can be learnt, but it takes time to develop and...