At a local music teachers association meeting several months ago, one of the other teachers brought a book called, Joining the Dots: A Fresh Approach to Piano Sight-Reading by Alan Bullard. I was immediately intrigued and ended up ordering the whole 5 volume set so that I could begin experimenting with some of my students!
I’ve just started using the books, so I can’t say much yet about their effectiveness, but I really love the approach of focusing on one key at a time, building an understanding of patterns within that key, doing a little bit of ear-training and improvisation, and playing a few simple duets with the student. The layout is so attractive and organized to make it easy to establish specific habits as you work with the student to learn and implement effective sight-reading approaches.
Even though (or maybe because!) sight-reading has always come easily to me, it seems like many of my students are challenged in this area. (I always posit that God gave me a studio full of play-it-by-ear students that I can’t relate to at all!) I’ve tried a few other approaches over the years that haven’t been especially successful, so I’m hoping this relatively new series is the magic cure. Haha. Actually, I think consistency is probably the biggest factor in becoming a better sight-reader, so I’m hoping to stay focused on it with these books and a few students and then re-evaluate after several months to see how it’s going.
Has anyone else used these books? Or have you used another series that you think works really well? I’m definitely open to ideas!
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The link to the book isn’t working…
I would be very interested in hearing how this goes- I have several students who are really weak readers and I would love to find a comprehensive course to correct it!
We recently downloaded an app on the ipad called wessar. You do have to pay for it, but it is fantastic! It hides the music as the student plays, meaning they can’t go back!! One student went home and downloaded it himself and has improved heaps in just a week!
These books really interest me! I’d love to know what ages you’d recommend this for? I’ve started using the new Piano Adventures Sight Reading companion books, but I am always on the look-out for sight reading resources for my older students. Thanks!
I just recently started using it with a student studying to take the Grade 1 practical in ABRSM. It’s hard to know whether it’s helping or not just yet… I usually have my students go back and review the finger patterns for this level and grade 2 (even though they’re learning two octave scales.) I also make them practice placing their hands over the correct keys before they even begin to practice sight reading…) Getting back to the book, I DO like that there are HARDER sight reading pieces in the book that kids can practice…
I think the key to good sight reading skills is to have a burning desire for new music! I have always been a great sight reader, but it was at the expense of staying with my other pieces until they were fully developed. I just wanted to read thru new music and not work on my “old pieces”. I have several students that love to sight read…but hate having to completely learn a piece and understand it. I guess it takes all kinds of pianists!
You can read about a couple of books I recently discovered here: http://10000thingsthatmakemehappy.blogspot.com/2012/01/im-sold.html
They are geared to help with sight reading from the start. My 6- and 8-year old like them so far and they look forward to their daily 5-10 minute lesson from the Primer book.