Chapter 1: Rhythm Basics
* Focuses on understanding note and rest durations, as well as simple rhythms.
* Example: Sight-reading exercise with whole notes, half notes, quarter notes, and rests in a 4/4 time signature.
Chapter 2: Simple Melodies
* Introduces melodic notation, including intervals, notes on the staff, and fingerings.
* Example: Sight-reading exercise with a simple ascending melody (e.g., G, A, B, C, D), focusing on finger placement and intonation.
Chapter 3: Reading Ledger Lines
* Explains how to read notes above and below the staff using ledger lines.
* Example: Sight-reading exercise that includes notes on ledger lines (e.g., G below the staff, A above the staff), reinforcing note recognition and fingerings.
Chapter 4: Rhythmic Variation
* Explores more complex rhythms, including syncopation, dotted rhythms, and triplets.
* Example: Sight-reading exercise with a rhythm that includes a dotted quarter note, eighth-note triplets, and syncopated accents, developing rhythmic accuracy.
Chapter 5: Major and Minor Scales
* Introduces the major and minor scales, providing fingerings and patterns.
* Example: Sight-reading exercise that uses a simple major or minor scale, reinforcing scale knowledge and finger coordination.
Chapter 6: Sight-Reading in Different Keys
* Explains how to read music in keys other than C major, including transposing fingerings.
* Example: Sight-reading exercise in the key of G major, developing familiarity with fingerings in different keys and transposing abilities.
Chapter 7: Dynamic Markings
* Introduces dynamic markings (e.g., forte, piano, crescendo, decrescendo) and their effect on playing volume.
* Example: Sight-reading exercise with dynamic markings, teaching students to interpret and respond to dynamic changes.
Chapter 8: Articulation and Slurs
* Explores articulation (e.g., legato, staccato, portato) and slur markings, which indicate how to play notes smoothly or separately.
* Example: Sight-reading exercise that incorporates various articulations, developing articulation technique and phrasing skills.
Chapter 9: Sight-Reading Strategies
* Provides practical tips and strategies for improving sight-reading accuracy and fluency.
* Example: Strategies include scanning the music ahead, preparatory fingerings, and using a metronome to maintain a steady tempo.
Chapter 10: Advanced Sight-Reading
* Addresses more advanced sight-reading challenges, such as complex rhythms, key changes, and polyrhythms.
* Example: Sight-reading exercise featuring a polyrhythm (e.g., 3 against 4), developing rhythmic coordination and multitasking abilities.
