Sight-reading, the ability to perform music at first sight, is a critical skill for pianists. This research investigates how principles of deliberate practice can be applied to enhance sight-reading accuracy and speed, focusing on cognitive load management and pattern recognition.

Investigated Techniques

• Chunking and Pattern Recognition: Training pianists to identify and process musical patterns (scales, arpeggios, common chord voicings) more efficiently.
• Eye Movement Strategies: Analyzing and coaching optimal eye-tracking patterns, including look-ahead distance and fixation points.
• Error Analysis and Correction: Developing systematic approaches to analyzing sight-reading errors and implementing corrective practice.
• Rhythmic Prioritization: Emphasizing rhythmic accuracy as a foundational element even when note accuracy is challenged.

Experimental Design

Piano students were divided into groups, each focusing on different deliberate practice interventions for sight-reading over a 12-week period. Performance was assessed using standardized sight-reading tests, measuring accuracy, rhythmic integrity, and processing speed (via eye-tracking data).

Presentation and Outcomes

The results, presented at the International Symposium on Performance Science, indicated that a combination of pattern recognition training and structured error analysis yielded the most significant improvements. The study offers a framework for integrating these techniques into piano pedagogy to systematically develop sight-reading skills.