30/07/2026
Why Is Your Piano Sight-Reading Skill Poor?🧐
(Note: This is not referring to the child in the photo. This child has excellent sight-reading skill😃)
Recently, we have received many students who have been learning piano for several years. Some have even passed Grade 3 or Grade 4 exams, but when they are given a new piece at around Grade 1 level without any help, they are unable to play it.
Why does this happen?
The biggest reason is that they did not truly develop an understanding of music notation when they first started learning piano. In the pursuit of faster progress and convenience, teachers often tell students which keys to press directly instead of teaching them how to identify the notes themselves from the music.
Another reason is starting the exam pathway too early. When preparing for exams, students often spend a long time repeatedly practising only three or four pieces, which greatly reduces their opportunities to read new music and practise sight-reading. At first, it may seem like they are progressing quickly, but as the grades become higher, their learning speed actually becomes slower. Some even become dependent on the teacher telling them what notes to play, creating a cycle that is difficult to break.
In contrast, students who spend more time building a strong foundation at the beginning may appear to progress slowly, but once their foundation is solid, they can learn new pieces much faster, progress through exams more easily, and find notes independently without relying on the teacher. Most importantly, they develop confidence in their own ability.
So, rushing at the beginning of learning piano comes with a cost.🤓
