In grade 2 piano sight reading, as in grade 1, each hand is locked into a five-finger position throughout the exercise. Unlike grade 1, they are now playing together, making this the first grade where pianists have to sight read multiple notes simultaneously. It's a signature challenge of playing the piano that singers and most other instrumentalists (except guitarists) never have to deal with. This introduction of hands-together playing, coupled with the addition of several key signatures, makes grade 2 a significant step up from grade 1.
Grade 2 Piano Sight Reading Exercise
Try this free piano sight reading piece to get a sense of what you can expect in grade 2.
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Tips for Grade 2 Piano Sight Reading
- Get situated where you can comfortably see the piece from your piano or keyboard (an iPad or other tablet is especially convenient for this, as you can set it right on your piano's 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 piano 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