How to improve sight reading?

This site may help you.

http://www.yokewong.net/sightreading.html

Learn to play songs you like.

To improve your sight-reading skills, follow these steps:

1. Start with easy pieces: Begin with simpler music pieces that have a slow tempo and use basic rhythms. This will help you build a strong foundation and gradually increase the difficulty level.

2. Read ahead: Look a few measures ahead while playing to anticipate upcoming notes, rhythms, and other musical elements. This will help you avoid surprises and keep a steady flow while reading.

3. Practice regularly: Sight-reading skills can be developed through consistent practice. Set aside dedicated time each day to work on sight-reading exercises or pieces.

4. Use sight-reading materials: There are specific sight-reading books and websites available that offer graded exercises and pieces for practice. These resources often provide progressive difficulty levels to help you gradually improve.

5. Focus on rhythm: Pay close attention to the rhythm while sight-reading. Practice clapping or tapping the rhythms without the instrument to better internalize them.

6. Play different styles and genres: Explore music from various styles and genres to encounter a wide range of rhythms, note patterns, and musical phrasing. This will enhance your adaptability and broaden your sight-reading skills.

7. Analyze the music: Before playing, take a moment to scan the music for key signatures, time signatures, dynamic markings, repeat signs, and any challenging technical sections. This preparation will help you anticipate what to expect as you play.

8. Learn basic music theory: Having a good understanding of music theory can greatly assist your sight-reading abilities. Familiarize yourself with concepts like key signatures, scales, intervals, and chord progressions, as they will help you recognize patterns more easily.

9. Start with a slow tempo: When sight-reading a new piece, begin by playing it at a slower tempo. This allows you to read and interpret the music more accurately. As you become more comfortable, gradually increase the speed.

10. Embrace mistakes and keep going: Don't get discouraged by errors while sight-reading. Mistakes are inevitable, especially when reading unfamiliar music. Instead, focus on maintaining a steady rhythm and continuing forward.

By incorporating these steps into your practice routine, you can steadily improve your sight-reading skills over time.