When you sightread, you are looking at music for the first time. There are five steps you need to take before you begin playing the music on your instrument. These steps can be identified by the acronym STARS. By going through these steps, you will be familiar with the music and therefore more successful when you attempt to play it.
Below is a table describing what the letters stand for and what to look for in the music.
| S | First, look at the
Signature (Notes, Key Signature, Sharps, Flats, Accidentals) |
|
|
Second, familiarize
yourself with the
Tempo & Time Signature |
|
|
Next, look at the
Articulation (Legato, Marcato, Staccato, Accents) |
|
|
Then, figure out
any tough
Rhythms (When in doubt, count them out!) |
|
|
Finally, see if
there are any
Special Signs (Dynamics, Repeat, Trills, D.S. & D.C. al Codas, Etc.) |
Introduction l Task l Process l Resources l Evaluation l Conclusion