The piano sight reading exercises in this article are of similar level to the ones tested by AMEB examiners in grade 1. Playing these exercises will help you be better prepared for your exam. The key to improving sight reading is practice. If possible, set aside some time daily for sight reading practice. Begin by practicing simple examples and progress to more technical ones as you become more proficient. Before playing a sight reading example, check what the key signature is. This will help you be aware of any sharps or flats that may be present in the music. In addition, check what is the range of the melody and what fingers (if given) are recommended to use.

Exercise 1Exercise 1 is in C major as there are no sharps nor flats in the key signature. There are no accidentals in the melody. The first note on the right hand is to be played with finger 5. The range of the right hand melody goes from note G to a lower D. The melody changes to the left hand in bar 3. The recommended finger to play the first note is finger 1. The range of the melody on bars 3 and 4 goes from note G to a lower note C. So that is a range of a 5th. Before playing, count yourself in to ensure you maintain a steady rhythm.

Exercise 2Exercise 2 is in G major as there is one sharp (F sharp) in the key signature. There are no F sharp notes on the melody nor accidentals. In the right hand part, start the melody with finger 1. In the left hand part, start the melody with finger 3. The range of the melody on the right hand is a 5th. It goes from note G to a higher note D. On the left hand part, the range is a 4th. It goes from note D to a higher note G.

Exercise 3Exercise 3 is the first of the piano sight reading exercises in this article in 3/4. The previous exercises were in 4/4. The key is F major. There are no B flat notes in the melody and also no accidentals. In the right hand part, start the melody with finger 1. In the left hand part, start the melody with finger 3. Finally, let’s look at the range of the melody. In the right hand, it is a 5th. It goes from note F to a higher note C. In the left hand, the range is also a 5th. It goes from note C to a higher note G.

Exercise 4Exercise 4 is in C major. There are no accidentals in the melody. We start the melody on both hands with finger 5. The range of the melody on the right hand is a 4h. It goes from note G to a lower note D (just below the staff). In the left hand, the range is a 5th. The lowest note is C and the highest note is G (top space of the staff).

Exercise 5The time signature of exercise 5 is 3/4. The key signature is A minor. This is because there as are no sharps nor flats in the key signature and the last note is an A. As per previous exercises, there are no accidentals in the melody. We start the melody on both hands with finger 1. The range of the melody on the right hand is a 5th. It goes from note A to a higher note E (top space of the staff). In the left hand, the range is also a 5th. The lowest note is an A (last note) and the highest note is an E (beginning of bar 4).

Exercise 6Exercise 6 is in 3/4. The key signature is C major and there are no accidentals in the melody. The melody on both hands starts with finger 1. The range of the melody on the right hand is a 5th . Lowest note is a C (middle C) and the highest note is a G. In the left hand, the range is a 4th. The lowest note is a G (top space on the staff) and the highest note is middle C.

Exercise 7Exercise 7 is in 3/4. The key signature is E minor. The melody on both hands starts with finger 1. The range of the melody on the right hand is a 5th from note E to a higher note B. In the left hand, the range is a also 5th. The highest note is a B (above the top line on the staff). The lowest note is an E (last note).

Exercise 8Exercise 8 is in G major and is in 3/4. The melody on both hands starts with finger 5. The range of the melody in the left hand is a 5th from note D to note A (bar 3). In the right hand, the range is also 5th. The highest note is D and the lowest note is G (last note).

Exercise 9Exercise 9 is the first of the piano sight reading exercises in this article in 2/4. It is in F major. The melody on right hand starts with finger 1 and on the left hand starts with finger 2. Ensure to play all note Bs as B flat because of the key signature. The range of the melody on the right hand is a 5th. The lowest note is F (starting note) and the highest note is C (starting note on bar 3). In the left hand, the range is also 5th. The highest note is middle C and the lowest note is F (last note).

Exercise 10Exercise 10 is in 2/4. The key signature is D minor as there is a B flat in the key signature. In addition, the last note is D. The melody on the left hand starts with finger 5 and on the right hand starts with finger 3. The range of the melody on the left hand is a 5th. The lowest note is D (starting note) and the highest is note A (starting note on bar 3). In the right hand, the range is also 5th. The highest note is A (first note in bar 6) and the lowest note is D (last note).

For more piano sight reading exercises, check out the AMEB Series 18 Piano Sight Reading book.

The post 10 Beginner Piano Sight Reading Exercises appeared first on Do Re Mi Studios.