Grade 1 is the first percussion level in SightReadingMastery. Sight reading exercises are short pieces in simple time (4/4, 3/4 or 2/4). For tuned percussion, pieces are in one of the following keys: C, G, F majors; A, E, D minors. Also, be prepared to encounter occasional tied notes, dotted notes and accidentals.
Tips for Grade 1 Percussion Sight Reading
- Get situated with your percussion where you can comfortably see the piece (an iPad or other tablet is especially convenient for this, as you can set it right on your music stand; print this page if needed)
- Take 30 seconds to look over the piece before you attempt to sight read it
- Once you've started, keep going no matter what – learning not to stop even when you make a mistake is one of the most important skills in percussion sight reading
- When you're finished playing, press the "Listen" button to hear a correct performance of the exercise; take a moment to reflect on how you did