Improve read speed, multiple voices

Hey,

This is not about reading a single line ok, all non-polyphonic instruments never deal with this, my concern is in organ pieces mostly, and other might looks similar.

We pianists, honestly, always have more time to study before the performance, no matter how impossible is the score, we have time to study, this is not the case in organists.

Take a look to the following score, let's say you have to play it as perfect as you can on your first attempt, try to determinate how exactly do/would you read it, what do you see first, how much do you use your harmony knowledge to guess the following note, where there notes you didn't see, only guessed ?

how do you read it, up to down on each quaver ?, look a particular note, the others like half sight ? sight focuses on every single note ?

In Orchestral scores, I can read way more lines, but the fact that I don't have to play it, only to know what they should do, makes it different.

I know that when I play Bach works, I can infer the next notes with the inevitability of his harmonic language or development before actually reading it. This works well with composers who have a consistent style that's well known.

Though with most works, I think simple "get good sightreadin'" is necessary.

Though with most works, I think simple "get good sightreadin'" is necessary.

That's what I'm talking about man, how would you describe "good sightreadin" ? fast sight mobility ? like a quick scan of the measure or tempo in a particular order ? vertical for instance ?

taking a look of a complete area and without focus every single note in fast different moments just like an screenshot of the zone and that would be enough ?

I detect an obvious vertical motion of the sight on almost every quaver, but some people do it so fast that makes me doubt if the read like that.

They do it so fast simply because they practice it. I make it a point to do multiple-stave sight reading almost every day (almost always hymns or Bach somethings); I've noticed that my sight reading, as a result, has gotten vastly better. Whether I read every single note or a broader phrase-like structure, it depends. A piece like a Hymn usually is broader where the harmony is simple. Bach's preludes, on the other hand, need a larger attention to detail.

AS a formerly active organists, I agree with Tokke you have to practice sight reading. Actually reading orchestral scores at the piano is very good but also try reading string quartets at the organ - slow chorale like movements. This cand be done in addition to hymns as Tokke suggested. There are a few key things to do -

1) Look at least a 1/2 bar ahead

2) No matter what situation you will always have a few seconds to scan short pieces for potential minefields and most importantly prepare your feet and hands for the first note. So I know right away the first D in the pedal would have to be played with my left leg heel and later the C# taken up by my right foot toe. I could also figure it is in "D" but not a typical D major scale - looks lydian/phrygian on D.

3) Especially for organ but in general - get the long notes in the bass correct - or skip. For the hands - same principal - for example the 32nds I would skip and I'd be happy to get the first note of the sixteenth down at a first reading.

4) Check for patterns and their goals - so the chromatic line in the tenor - alto - doesn't need to be played entirely If you skip a few eighths in a reading no big deal.

5) KEEP AS STEADY A TEMPO AS POSSIBLE. This will determine point 3 and 4. At worst you could always play chord on beat one and get what you can in the manuals while you play accurately the pedal part.

So, sight reading is essentially reducing the score to an easier version without removing too much. As you get more proficient you don't have to remove as much.

I agree with Chris. I don't know a ton about organ, but I know enough!