sight-read
Perform without rehearsal
To sight-read is to perform music or read text aloud without prior practice or preparation, working directly from the written page: She can sight-read almost anything you put in front of her.
The skill is especially valued in musicians, who must translate notation into sound in real time.
Strong sight-readers can join ensembles or accompany singers with minimal rehearsal.
Numerical standing in competition
- clefStaff pitch indicator
- staffOrganization's workers collectively
- barsRods, taverns, or measures
- measuresQuantifies or evaluates
tempo · dynamics · articulation · phrasing · accidentals · time-signature · rests · sharps
Solo musical performance
- auditionTrial performance for selection
- orchestraLarge instrumental ensemble
- accompanistOne who plays alongside
- pianistOne who plays piano
vocalist · instrumentalist · ensemble · run-through · rehearsal · gig
Smooth linguistic command
- proficiencySkilled performance level
- accuracyDegree of correctness
- literacyAbility to read, write
- decodingExtracting meaning from symbols
interpretation · comprehension · aptitude · grasp · sharpness · acuity · assimilation · retention
Not practiced beforehand
- unpreparedLacking readiness beforehand
- spontaneousArising without external cause
- on-the-spotOccurring immediately where needed
- impromptuWithout advance preparation
ad-lib · extemporize · cold · unfamiliar · unscripted · real-time
score
Numerical standing in competition
measures · tempo · dynamics · articulation · phrasing · accidentals · time-signature · rests · sharps · flats
recital
Solo musical performance
- auditionTrial performance for selection
- orchestraLarge instrumental ensemble
- accompanistOne who plays alongside
pianist · vocalist · instrumentalist · ensemble · run-through · rehearsal · gig
fluency
Smooth linguistic command
- proficiencySkilled performance level
- accuracyDegree of correctness
- literacyAbility to read, write
decoding · interpretation · comprehension · aptitude · grasp · sharpness · acuity · assimilation · retention · transposition
unrehearsed
Not practiced beforehand
- unpreparedLacking readiness beforehand
- spontaneousArising without external cause
- on-the-spotOccurring immediately where needed
impromptu · ad-lib · extemporize · cold · unfamiliar · unscripted · real-time
sight-readplay by ear
Perform without notation
improvise · extemporize · ad-lib · jam · fake it
sight, read, sights, sighted, sighting, unsightly, sightless, sightseeing, eyesight