Consecutive notes and an essential pulse.
The opening chapters work with seconds using quarter notes and half notes. The notes move stepwise so that you can focus on recognising them without adding too much rhythmic information yet.
SIGHT-READING CHALLENGE FOR PIANISTS · VOLUME 1
A clear foundation for reading without stopping.
Begin with quarter notes and half notes, add eighth notes and rests, and progress from stepwise motion to thirds, always within five-note positions.
594exercises18chapters3levels per chapter
This volume is for you if you know the notes in treble and bass clefs but still need to stop to identify them.
English edition · Check price and availability on Amazon.
Volume 1Sight-reading foundations
A HABIT, NOT A TEST
Better reading is trained.
Short, carefully sequenced exercises for a few focused minutes each day, without memorising the page.
WHAT YOU WILL WORK ON
From stepwise motion to the first skips.
Quarter notes, half notes, eighth notes and rests · seconds and thirds.
Eighth notes and rests without losing continuity.
The second stage introduces eighth notes and quarter-note and half-note rests while preserving stepwise motion. The challenge is to combine different durations without abandoning the pulse.
Recognising seconds and thirds.
The third stage introduces thirds. The rhythmic vocabulary remains stable so that you can focus on recognising wider distances on the staff and transferring them to the keyboard.
INSIDE EACH CHAPTER
Three chapters. The same position.
The samples come from Chapters 1, 2 and 3, all in treble clef and the C-G position. To show how the volume progresses, they are presented at Easy, Intermediate and Advanced levels respectively.
Easy
The first stage at its entry level.
Intermediate
The second stage at an intermediate degree of difficulty.
Advanced
The third stage at its most demanding level.
THE COMPLETE ROUTE
All 18 chapters at a glance.
The original contents page shows how the six positions repeat across the volume’s three stages.
Original contents page from Volume 1.
YOUR PLACE IN THE COLLECTION
Four volumes. One continuous progression.
01Sight-reading foundationsYOU ARE HERE
02Intervals and continuity03Rhythmic agility04Advanced rhythms
CREATED IN THE TEACHING STUDIO
A method by David de Miguel.
Pianist · Teacher · AuthorPianist, teacher and author. The Sight-Reading Challenge grew from daily work with students who needed greater confidence without turning every page into a test.
Meet the author →QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS VOLUME
Before you begin
Is this a method for learning piano from scratch?
No. It is intended for pianists who already know the basic location of notes and elementary note values and want to become more fluent readers.
What is the difference between a volume and a level?
The volume indicates the overall stage of the method and the musical vocabulary being introduced. Easy, Intermediate and Advanced are three degrees of difficulty within every chapter of the same volume.
How should I practise?
Open an unfamiliar page, observe the clef, position and pattern before playing, and reach the end without going back. Fluency grows through consistent practice.
Is this a repertoire book?
No. It is a workbook specifically designed for sight-reading practice. You can combine it with the pieces you normally study.
Do the paperback and Kindle editions contain the same exercises?
The method content is the same. Check Amazon for the format and availability that best suit the way you study.
What should I know before starting Volume 1?
You should know the basic location of notes in treble and bass clefs and be able to play elementary note values. This is not a method for learning piano from scratch.
What changes in the third stage?
The rhythms already studied remain in place and thirds are introduced. This lets you focus on recognising your first skip without changing the entire rhythmic vocabulary at the same time.
YOUR NEXT SESSION STARTS HERE
Open a new page. Read to the end.
594 exercises for turning sight-reading into a consistent practice.
English edition