Sight Reading Tip #2: Use Your Inner Metronome

By Anne Sullivan 

Believe it or not, successful sight reading is less about the notes than about the timing. One proof of this is that traditional sight reading tests given as part of music examinations require that the test piece be performed with a steady pulse at a constant speed. A muffed note here or there is of less consequence than hesitations and stutters. Maintaining the beat is the main thing.

Practicing with a metronome is great, but you need to develop your own personal metronome as well, your inner metronome. Your inner metronome helps you keep the beat steady as you play. Training your inner metronome starts with counting. You may think your inner metronome is fairly reliable but here is my favorite inner metronome test to try. You don’t even need your harp for this one.

1. Choose a tempo by imagining a piece you know and start counting aloud without your metronome. Counting aloud is important. You’ll be more aware of any counting discrepancies when you are saying the counting out loud.
2. Then find that tempo on your metronome and practice counting aloud again, making sure you match the metronome speed.  I like seeing how close I can guess the metronome mark!
3. Next, using the volume control of the mute button on your metronome, keep counting while you silence the metronome for three or four measures. Without stopping your counting, turn the sound back up. Did you stay with the metronome? If not, do you think you got ahead or behind? Repeat this test until you can count four measures without altering your speed.

Now you can take your new inner metronome skills to the harp to help you sight read. The key is to keep counting as you play, being sure that you make keeping a steady the most important thing. Practice playing past any note mistakes you make. Leave out what you must in order to keep the tempo steady. 

There’s a surprise bonus in here, too. Once you get used to keeping your tempo steady, you’ll discover that it becomes easier to play more of the right notes. Your steady beat will help you get to the strings you need to play without feeling hurried or flustered, and your note reading will feel more consistent. Your inner metronome is a powerful tool!