sight-reading
Cold musical execution
Sight-reading is the act of performing written music or text without having seen or practiced it beforehand.
Musicians sight-read when they play a piece for the first time directly from the score, and actors sight-read when auditioning with unfamiliar scripts.
The skill requires quick recognition of notation or words and immediate translation into performance.
She's an excellent sight-reader, so the conductor often calls her for last-minute substitutions.
Smooth linguistic command
- accuracyDegree of correctness
- rhythmPatterned stress and silence
- pitchFrequency of sound
- tempoRate of musical performance
dynamics · articulation · interpretation · precision · decoding · intervals · time-signature · transposition
Numerical standing in competition
- notationSystem of written symbols
- orchestraLarge instrumental ensemble
- ensembleUnified group or outfit
- recitalSolo musical performance
audition · concert · soloist · pianist · violinist · cellist · accompanist · conductor
Not practiced beforehand
- impromptuWithout advance preparation
- unpreparedLacking readiness beforehand
- on-the-spotOccurring immediately where needed
- extemporaneousDone without advance preparation
real-time · immediate · ad-lib · instinctive
fluency
Smooth linguistic command
tempo · dynamics · articulation · interpretation · precision · decoding · intervals · time-signature · transposition · clef
score
Numerical standing in competition
- notationSystem of written symbols
- orchestraLarge instrumental ensemble
- ensembleUnified group or outfit
recital · audition · concert · soloist · pianist · violinist · cellist · accompanist · conductor · rehearsal
unrehearsed
Not practiced beforehand
- impromptuWithout advance preparation
- unpreparedLacking readiness beforehand
- on-the-spotOccurring immediately where needed
extemporaneous · real-time · immediate · ad-lib · instinctive
fingering
Note-playing hand technique
embouchure · tonguing · bowing · pedaling · register · frets · warm-up · etude · solfege · Suzuki
- choiralto, soprano, tenor, bass section, baritone
- music lessonsmusic lessons, lessons, technique, jam session, cello lessons
- Practicedrills, rehearsal, warm-up, warmup, exercises
- Beginner Pianoeasy songs, finger exercises, piano method, method books, simple melodies
- music educationmusic education, music lessons, music instruction, music school, music schools
- music examsear training, dictation, key signatures, time signatures, grade exams
sight-readingplaying by ear
Performing without written music
improvisation · improvising · jamming · busking · extemporization