Premier Piano Course, Sight Reading 2B: Piano

This sight-reading book does the work that every piano teacher knows needs to happen but can feel tedious in isolation. Fourteen units of varied, purposeful activities keep students engaged while building the independence and confidence they need to approach unfamiliar music without stopping mid-phrase. The correlation to Lesson Book 2B means it integrates seamlessly into lessons without feeling like supplementary busywork.

Each activity feels like a small, achievable challenge rather than an intimidating task. The pieces stay musical and satisfying to play, so students experience success and progress rather than drudgery. By the end of each unit, a student who struggled with the first activity often plays the fifth activity with real confidence and expression.

Pianists working through Premier Piano Course Level 2B who need focused, daily practice in reading unfamiliar music fluently. This book suits students aged 6-8 who are ready to move beyond reading with heavy teacher support and want to build independence in approaching new pieces on their own.

• Set a steady tempo before beginning each activity, even if the student finds the notation challenging. Maintaining pulse builds the rhythmic security that prevents stumbling.
• Encourage students to scan the entire piece before playing, noting any key changes, accidentals, or rhythm patterns that might trip them up mid-phrase.
• Rotate which activities you assign based on what the student needs most that week. If rhythm is shaky, lean on rhythm-focused exercises; if expression feels mechanical, prioritize the activities that develop musicality.
• Play through without stopping, even if mistakes happen. Recovering gracefully and continuing forward matters far more than perfect accuracy in sight-reading practice.

Assign one or two activities per week as homework to reinforce the concepts being taught in lessons. Many teachers find it effective to have students complete activities during the lesson itself, allowing them to observe how the student approaches unfamiliar music and to coach in real time.

• Reading notes and rhythms without prior rehearsal
• Playing continuously through a piece despite small errors
• Adding shape and expression to new musical material
• Building confidence with varied rhythmic patterns at Level 2B
• Recognizing and executing simple musical markings and articulations