Let's Sightplay!, Book 4: Early Intermediate Piano Book

Massoud writes with a clear understanding of what early intermediate pianists actually need to strengthen their reading fluency. Rather than drilling isolated exercises, she frames sightplaying as a creative practice, keeping students engaged and building confidence with each new piece they encounter.

These exercises balance structure with musical interest, avoiding the mechanical feel of traditional rhythm or note drills. You'll encounter varied harmonic contexts and melodic shapes that keep your reading fresh while building the automaticity that allows real sightplaying to happen.

Early intermediate pianists who are ready to strengthen their ability to read and play new music fluently without extensive preparation. This book works well for students who can handle the technical demands of early intermediate repertoire but need focused practice converting printed notes into sound quickly and accurately.

• Set a steady tempo before beginning each exercise and resist the urge to slow down when you encounter an unfamiliar interval or rhythm; moving forward builds better eye coordination than stopping to recalibrate.
• Read ahead by one or two notes as you play, training your eyes to stay slightly ahead of your hands rather than chasing what you're already playing.
• Work through the book sequentially rather than jumping around, since the difficulty is calibrated to progress steadily and each piece prepares you for what comes next.

Assign one or two exercises from this book as part of the student's regular practice routine, rotating through the material over several weeks or months alongside their primary repertoire. This approach builds sightreading stamina without overwhelming practice time and creates a steady foundation for tackling new pieces with confidence.

• Reading notes fluently across the grand staff in early intermediate positions
• Recognizing common interval patterns without hesitation
• Maintaining steady tempo while processing unfamiliar rhythmic and harmonic material
• Building automaticity so reading happens subconsciously rather than deliberately
• Approaching new sheet music with confidence and efficiency