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Benedict Westenra

"I just learned in 2.5 hours what I have been shying away from for 15 years." - Aleister

"Don't even think about any other course, this is the one. I would gladly give more stars if available." - Adam Robson

"WOW. The instructor's method and exercises meant I was nailing five octaves of note reading in just a day. ... Excellent production quality, excellent graphics, clear explanation. ... I'd give it ten stars if I could." - Mark S A Smith

"After the course, I can assure you that you will not be seeing a music sheet the same way again." - Kathleen Rosario

Read more

"I just learned in 2.5 hours what I have been shying away from for 15 years." - Aleister

"Don't even think about any other course, this is the one. I would gladly give more stars if available." - Adam Robson

"WOW. The instructor's method and exercises meant I was nailing five octaves of note reading in just a day. ... Excellent production quality, excellent graphics, clear explanation. ... I'd give it ten stars if I could." - Mark S A Smith

"After the course, I can assure you that you will not be seeing a music sheet the same way again." - Kathleen Rosario

"I really can't say enough good things about this class." - Jim Thomason

"Incredible." - Dadang Setiawan

"... can't believe how easy that was. " - Bryan

"He makes it stupid easy" - Alex Kilker

"His technique works. " - Jason Cooksey

"10/10 would recommend to a friend." - Sheila Vega

"Helpful even for non beginners" - Nikola

This course uses a unique method to teach you how to read any note on the piano keyboard quickly and easily, so that you can then tackle any piano course with confidence. It will also help if you've already started learning piano but are struggling to read the notes (e.g in the bass clef).

5 problems with the traditional method

g. "Every Good Boys Deserves Favour" for the lines of the treble clef ( This has several problems:

  1. It's a lot to remember. You have to memorise 4 phrases ("Every Good Boy Deserves Favour", "F-A-C-E", "Good Boys Deserve Favour Always", and "All Cows Eat Grass"), and then remember when to apply them, which doesn't follow any logical pattern.
  2. It's slow, because you have to recite a phrase every time you want to play a note.
  3. It's language-based rather than visual, and yet sight reading is a visual skill. It makes you translate every note on the page into a note name and then translate that note name into a note on the piano, but there are no note names on the page and no note names on the piano so you should just be able to see a note and then play it.
  4. It doesn't tell you which note to play, it just tells you its note name. For example, "Good Boys Deserve Favour Always" might tell you that the note you're looking at is an F, but it doesn't tell you which F it is, and there are 8 on the piano.
  5. It doesn't even teach you all of the notes you're likely to play. What about Middle C, or D, or B, which are all in between the clefs? What if you go above the top of the treble clef, or below the bottom of the bass clef (both of which are really common)? The mnemonics won't help you.

5 reasons why my method is better

  1. There's less to remember. You'll just learn where the signs for the treble and bass clef came from, and how that helps you recognise the notes.
  2. It's faster. By the end of the course you'll be able to see a note and just play it, without reciting anything.
  3. It's visual. I use pictures and colour-coding to help you recognise notes.
  4. It's specific. My method not only tells you that you should be playing, e.g., and F, it also tells you which F to play. However, most of the time you won't even be conscious of the name of the note you're playing, you'll just play it.
  5. It covers 211% more notes. It teaches you how to read 32 white notes quickly and easily, whereas the traditional method only teaches you how to read 18 slowly. Plus I'll also teach you and test you on the black notes, which comprise another 24 notes, a total of 211% more (14 white + 24 black notes).

(That's not the teachers' fault, it's just that no-one's come up with a really good method of teaching sight reading before.) And if you're not convinced you can always take advantage of Udemy's 30-day no-questions-asked money back guarantee.

So how does it work?

After each video I'll then test you on what you've just learned using interactive tests specially made for this course, which intelligently keep track of which notes you're finding difficult so that they can test you on those more. (I've also thrown in a mini-course on the best way to learn the note names, in case you're a complete beginner and don't know them yet. )

One of them said that my sight reading method was "so easy a monkey could learn it". I teach freelance and charge one lesson at a time, so my teaching methods have to be good otherwise I wouldn't be able to make a living teaching (and I do make a living teaching).

Students have been pestering me for years to publish my teaching methods but this is the first time I've done so. If it proves popular I'll add more courses.

What this course isn't

So, for that reason:

  • it doesn't teach you about rhythm,
  • it doesn't teach you about key signatures, and
  • it doesn't get you to sight read any complete pieces of music.

However, no matter what piano course you follow, whether it's online, or from a book, or with a teacher, this course will help you with your sight reading.

It'll probably help if you're learning a non-keyboard instrument, just bear in mind that it wasn't made for you. If you are learning another instrument you can always try the course out and get a refund if it doesn't help.

In conclusion

If you don't like you can always get a no-questions-asked full refund within 30 days.

Benedict

Enroll now

What's inside

Syllabus

Have a broad understanding of how sight reading works at the piano
Read this first!
Introduction to sight reading, Part 1
Introduction to sight reading, Part 2
Read more
Be able to name any note on the piano instantly
Intro & D
F & B
C & E
G & A
Sharps & flats
Be able to read any of the 9 "reference notes" quickly and easily
The two clefs

Update, 2019: you can now do the tests using your piano keyboard. See Section 5, Lecture 31 for instructions!

Test #1: The first 2 reference notes
Top and bottom of the clefs
Test #2: The first 4 reference notes
Middle C
Test #3: The first 5 reference notes
2 more C's
Test #4: The first 7 reference notes
… and another 2
Test #5: All 9 reference notes
Be able to read any white note within 2 octaves of Middle C quickly and easily
Is it a reference note or not?
How to do test #6
Test #6: Is it a reference note or not?
Non-reference notes
Test #7: Non-reference notes
All the white notes
Test #8: All the white notes
… and the black ones
Test #9: … and the black ones
Closing comments
Updates
Update, 2016: Part 2 is available!
Update 2019: you can now do the tests with your digital piano
Update, 2020: I've redesigned all the tests

Save this course

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Read Music FAST! with these activities:
Review Basic Music Theory
Reinforce your understanding of fundamental music concepts like scales, chords, and key signatures to provide a solid foundation for sight-reading.
Show steps
  • Review the definitions of key signatures and time signatures.
  • Practice identifying intervals and chords.
  • Complete online quizzes to test your knowledge.
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music Theory, 2nd Edition
Use this book to expand your knowledge of music theory and how it relates to sight-reading.
Show steps
  • Read the chapters on scales, chords, and key signatures.
  • Complete the exercises at the end of each chapter.
  • Apply your knowledge to sight-reading exercises.
Explore Online Sight-Reading Tutorials
Supplement your learning with online tutorials that offer different perspectives and techniques for improving sight-reading skills.
Show steps
  • Search for online tutorials on sight-reading for piano.
  • Follow the tutorials and practice the exercises.
  • Take notes on new techniques and insights.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course
Practice reading notes in the context of simple piano pieces to reinforce sight-reading skills learned in the course.
View Melania on Amazon
Show steps
  • Work through the first few lessons of the book.
  • Focus on accurately reading the notes in each exercise.
  • Play each exercise slowly and deliberately.
Sight-Reading Exercises with Flashcards
Improve your note recognition speed and accuracy through repetitive practice with flashcards.
Show steps
  • Create flashcards with notes on one side and their names on the other.
  • Practice identifying the notes quickly and accurately.
  • Increase the speed as you become more proficient.
Compose a Simple Melody
Apply your sight-reading skills by composing a short melody and writing it down in musical notation.
Show steps
  • Compose a short melody using a limited number of notes.
  • Write down the melody in musical notation.
  • Play the melody on the piano to check for accuracy.
Learn a Simple Piano Piece by Sight-Reading
Challenge yourself by learning a new piano piece solely through sight-reading, without relying on prior knowledge or memorization.
Show steps
  • Choose a simple piano piece that is appropriate for your skill level.
  • Practice sight-reading the piece slowly and deliberately.
  • Focus on accuracy and rhythm.
  • Gradually increase the tempo as you become more comfortable.

Career center

Learners who complete Read Music FAST! will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Pianist
The career of a Pianist centers around mastering the piano and performing music. This career path requires the ability to read and interpret musical scores efficiently. This course, with its emphasis on quickly learning to read music, particularly for the piano keyboard, directly supports the fundamental skill of sight-reading, allowing a Pianist to learn and perform new pieces more rapidly. By applying the course's methods, which focus on visual recognition and efficient note identification, a Pianist can enhance their ability to sight-read, which is essential for rehearsals, performances, and learning new material. The course's interactive tests provide a structured way to improve these skills. Learning the unique techniques in this course helps build a strong foundation for a Pianist.
Music Teacher
A Music Teacher imparts musical knowledge and skills to students, often including instruction on reading music. This course, which aims to teach a unique and efficient method for reading music, can directly benefit a Music Teacher by providing them with an innovative teaching approach. The course emphasizes visual learning and quick recognition of notes, skills which can be passed on to students. By understanding and implementing the techniques taught in this course, a Music Teacher can make sight-reading easier and more accessible for their students. This is helpful for students who may be struggling with traditional methods. The course materials can also be adapted for use in lesson plans. Ultimately, this course helps a Music Teacher enhance their effectiveness and appeal to a wider range of students.
Accompanist
An Accompanist plays music to support other musicians, such as singers or instrumentalists. Strong sight-reading skills are helpful for an Accompanist, as they are often required to play unfamiliar pieces on short notice. This course is directly applicable, as it focuses on quickly and easily reading music, especially for the piano. The methods taught in this course will help an Accompanist rapidly learn and interpret musical scores, allowing them to provide better support during rehearsals and performances. The course’s emphasis on visual recognition, rather than memorization, can be particularly useful when sight-reading complex musical arrangements. By making it easier to learn new pieces and adapt to different musical styles, this course supports the demanding role of an Accompanist.
Church Musician
A Church Musician provides music for religious services and related events, frequently involving playing the organ or piano and leading congregational singing. A Church Musician often needs to be adept at sight-reading to learn new hymns or special musical pieces. This course, with its focus on rapidly improving music reading skills, is useful for anyone in this role. By using the techniques taught in this course, which are designed to make sight-reading faster and more intuitive, a Church Musician can learn new music more efficiently. This allows more time to focus on other aspects of their job, such as rehearsing with the choir or planning the musical aspects of services. The visual learning methods emphasized in the course can be particularly useful for quickly grasping complex arrangements, making this course a strong asset for any Church Musician.
Music Director
A Music Director oversees the musical aspects of a performance group, such as a choir, orchestra, or theater production. While a Music Director may not always perform themselves, they need a strong understanding of music theory and the ability to read scores to guide and instruct their ensemble. This course would give a Music Director tools to help performers refine their sight-reading capabilities. By following the techniques taught in this course, a Music Director can understand and explain music in a way that helps musicians, especially those who have difficulty reading music. This knowledge can allow for more focused and efficient rehearsals. A Music Director may find the course helpful in the improvement of the overall performance quality of the group they lead.
Arranger
An Arranger adapts existing musical compositions for different instruments or ensembles, requiring a deep understanding of music theory and the ability to read and write musical notation. This course may benefit an Arranger by providing a faster, more intuitive approach to reading music, particularly for keyboard instruments. Since it is not necessary for an Arranger to be proficient on the piano, but it can be useful, this course does not serve the highest level of value. By improving sight-reading skills, an Arranger can more easily analyze and understand the structure of existing pieces, which is essential for creating effective arrangements. The visual methods emphasized in the course can also help in quickly grasping complex musical patterns and harmonies. Taking this course has some value for an Arranger.
Composer
A Composer creates original musical works, often using their knowledge of music theory and notation to write scores for various instruments and ensembles. While composing relies more on creativity and theoretical understanding, efficient music reading can still be useful for analyzing existing works and transcribing musical ideas. This course may be helpful for a Composer looking to improve their sight-reading skills, particularly on the piano. Improving sight-reading speed can allow a Composer to quickly assess the effect of a large amount of written music, which may assist in their own compositional process. While this course is not directly related to the core skills of composing, enhanced sight-reading abilities makes this course valuable for a Composer.
Film Scorer
A Film Scorer composes original music for films, working closely with directors and editors to create scores that enhance the emotional impact of the visuals. While the core skills involve composition and orchestration, the ability to quickly read and interpret musical scores is still helpful. This course may be useful for a Film Scorer aiming to improve their sight-reading speed, particularly for piano, as it can aid in rapidly assessing and refining musical ideas. Improving sight-reading speed can allow a Film Scorer to quickly iterate and assess the effect of large amount of music, which may in turn assist in their compositional process. While this course does not directly improve the core skills of Film Scoring, enhanced sight-reading abilities are valuable for a Film Scorer.
Orchestrator
An Orchestrator takes a composer's sketches or piano scores and expands them into full orchestral arrangements, assigning specific instruments to different parts and ensuring a balanced and effective sound. Although their primary skill is in understanding instrumentation and arrangement, being able to quickly read music is still helpful when working through complex scores. This course may be relevant for an Orchestrator seeking to improve their sight-reading skills, especially on the piano. By enhancing sight-reading skills, an Orchestrator can more easily analyze and interpret the composer's original intentions, leading to more accurate and nuanced orchestrations. While this course does not directly impact core orchestration skills, enhancing sight-reading abilities may in turn be valuable for an Orchestrator.
Music Therapist
A Music Therapist uses music to address the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals. While playing an instrument is part of the role, other skills related to psychology and therapy are more important. This course may be useful if you intend to play the piano as part of your therapeutic work. Since the main value of the Music Therapist lies in their therapeutic skills, this course offers some improvement to their instrument playing skills. As such, this course is somewhat helpful to those looking to go into Music Therapy.
Audio Engineer
An Audio Engineer works with the technical aspects of sound recording, mixing, and reproduction. While a deep understanding of music is not always required, it can be beneficial, especially when working on musical projects. This course may be useful for an Audio Engineer who wants to enhance their understanding of music by developing the ability to sight-read, and in so doing be able to communicate with musicians. By learning to read music, an Audio Engineer can better understand the structure and nuances of musical pieces, facilitating communication with musicians and improving the recording and mixing process. Overall, this course is slightly helpful for those considering a career as an Audio Engineer.
Software Developer
A Software Developer designs, develops, and tests software applications. While music reading is generally unrelated to software development, there are niche areas, such as creating music notation software or interactive music learning tools, where it might be useful. This course may be helpful for a Software Developer interested in these specialized applications. By gaining a deeper understanding of music notation, a Software Developer can enhance their ability to create effective and user-friendly music-related software. This may assist in collaboration with those who understand and read music. Overall, this course is a little helpful for those considering a career as a Software Developer.
Acoustical Engineer
An Acoustical Engineer deals with the science of sound and vibration, often working on projects related to noise control, sound reinforcement, or architectural acoustics. While music reading is not a core skill, a general understanding of music theory can be beneficial. This course may be of slight interest to an Acoustical Engineer who wishes to broaden their musical knowledge. Understanding music notation may provide Acoustical Engineers with tools to better understand music, which makes up a portion of the total sounds they study. Overall, this course is somewhat helpful for those considering a career as an Acoustical Engineer.
Arts Administrator
An Arts Administrator manages the operational and business aspects of arts organizations, such as orchestras, theaters, or museums. While music reading skills are not essential, a general appreciation for the arts and music can be beneficial. This course may be of slight interest to an Arts Administrator who wants to develop a deeper understanding of music. The course may allow an Arts Administrator to discuss art in a new light with artists, which makes up a portion of the total sounds they study. Overall, this course is slightly helpful for those considering a career as an Arts Administrator.
Librarian
A Librarian manages and organizes information resources, including books, journals, and digital media. While music reading is not a typical requirement, it could be relevant for a music librarian who specializes in cataloging and archiving musical scores. An aspiring Librarian may find use for this course. This course may allow a music librarian to perform their duties with greater understanding, which may make up a portion of their work. Overall, this course is a bit helpful for those considering a career as a Librarian.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Read Music FAST!.
Provides a comprehensive overview of music theory concepts in an accessible format. It covers topics such as scales, chords, key signatures, and rhythm. It is useful for students who want to solidify their understanding of music theory and apply it to sight-reading. This book is more valuable as additional reading than it is as a current reference.

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