Here's a little/big tip that could help you and your students sight-read, read music, and see what's on the page (and around you) much better and with greater ease.

You might get curious about how we actual look at sheet music.

In my experience working with musicians, we all tend to narrow our attention and over-focus on the notes on the page, to the exclusion of what's going on within and around us, which creates all kinds of problems resulting from systemic excess tension.

It would be really great if music teachers could nip this in the bud with kids, early on!

The problem actually stems in the mind – with the desire to “get” what's on the page. It's a goal-oriented way of approaching learning instead of a more desirable process-oriented approach, which is less stressful, more effective in the long run, and healthier.

When we're goal-oriented, we look hard, we over-focus, we narrow our attention, and we tighten.

Instead, try experimenting with having kids (and yourself) widen their (your) peripheral vision and RECEIVE the notes, instead of “going out to get” the notes.

Be open to receive information from the page and the world around you, and allow your brain/body/self to process it. Trust that your system knows exactly how to do this in the best way possible to give you the results you want.

This may sound a little strange, but we all learn much better in a relaxed state than an over-tense, over-concentrated, contracted state.

Relaxing the eyes in the context of the whole self is an oft-overlooked key to help with MANY MANY issues – not just note reading.

If you try this out, please let me know how it goes – I'd be very interested to hear your experience!!

Thanks 🙂

p.s. Want to learn more along these lines? Check out my bestselling book on Amazon: ‘Make Great Music with Ease! The Secret to Smarter Practice, Confident Performance, and Living a Happier Life‘: https://a.co/d/1vMddsJ