Do you struggle when trying to play a choir arrangement  for the first time?

You’re not alone. I remember in my younger years…taking all the choir music home with me and learning the pieces real well.

Sighteading can benefit the church pianist in many ways!

The more you sightread…the easier it becomes to read music.

My piano teachers advised me to sightread music within my reading capablity. Why? So I would feel comfortable wading through a song that I had never seen before…which would increase my confidence. It worked! 

Always look at the following things in an arrangement before playing for the first time:

1. Time signature

2. Key signature

3. Tricky rhythms

4. Accidentals

5. Now…play the piece at a slow tempo; allowing your brain to compute what’s on the page

6. Try to look at the music as much as possible while playing…only looking down for awkward moves.

Try sightreading at least two songs a day well within your reading ability. Remember…it must be songs you’ve never played before.

The hymnal would be a good place to start for those at the intermediate level. (Example: Faber Lesson Book 3B)