Paul Harris: Improve Your Sight Reading for Flute

 Hi everyone,

In today's post I'm going to talk about Paul Harris 'Improve Your Sight Reading' series of books for the flute. This series of books starts from Grade One & goes straight through to Grade Eight across a collection of three books.

Layout

In the each of the Graded Sight Reading books, each grade has four stages that each focus on a different aspect of sight reading. The stages include elements such as Rhythmic Exercises, Melodic Exercises, Prepared Pieces, Going Solo, Improvise, and Compose. Also, you also get introduced to different scales as you make your way throughout the book. Paul has also included information that you need to know to get the best out of each of the stages and also the exercises that he has provided you with. The overall layout is also really easy to follow, as method is laid out in a clear and presentable format.

The Exercises

Rhythmic Exercises

Before attempting the rhythmic exercises it's important that you have an understanding of what is going on with the rhythm before going onto the melodic exercises. The aim of these exercises is to give you an understanding on how rhythms work, and they are also a number of ways that you do these exercises either by yourself or with your teacher.

Melodic Exercises

These are just notes and rhythms that are present through every stage of the 'Improve Your Sight Reading' series.

Prepared Pieces

This section of each of the stages start by answering the questions that are present within the stage that you are working through, as these questions will help you think about how you 'prepare' a piece of music. Don't start the piece until you are sure on how the piece of music is supposed to go.

Going Solo

This area is where you test yourself and discover how much you know about sight reading in a series of practice pieces. Give yourself a minute to look over each piece before you attempt to play it, as it will help you to develop an understanding.

I'm really looking forward to getting to know the 'Improve Your Sight Reading' series as work my way through my Flute Practical Grades. I also really like the clear and concise layout of this series of sight reading books, and I love how everything is explained as you make your way through each of the stages.

The 'Improve Your Sight Reading' series by Paul Harris are a brilliant music resource to have as part of your own personal music library whether you are just starting out learning an instrument or if you have been playing for years, as it will give you a better understanding on how rhythms and music works through a gradual and well thought out sight reading process. 

The 'Improve Your Sight Reading' series by Paul Harris is available as a series of books across a wide range of instruments.