Score reading and sight-reading

A chord doesn't always have its root on the bottom. Root position: root in bass (C–E–G). First inversion: 3rd in bass (E–G–C) — on the staff it shows a 4th gap at the top. Second inversion: 5th in bass (G–C–E) — a 4th gap at the bottom.

Spotting the 4th gap tells you the inversion instantly; the upper note of the 4th is the root.

Perfect (authentic) cadence: V → I. A full stop. Plagal: IV → I ('Amen'). Half cadence: anything → V. A comma. Deceptive (interrupted): V → vi — you expect I and get something else.

Recognise cadences in the bass line: a leap of a 5th down (or 4th up) from G to C in C major almost always means V–I.

Before playing (30 seconds): key signature, time signature, tempo, highest and lowest notes, repeated patterns, accidentals, hand-position changes.

While playing: pick a tempo you can sustain — half the marked speed is fine. Keep the pulse no matter what. Wrong notes are acceptable; stopping is not. Your eyes should be at least one beat, ideally one bar, ahead of your hands.

Read shapes: scales, arpeggios, chord outlines, sequences. Leave out inner voices before you lose the beat. Daily practice of a few minutes with new material beats occasional long sessions.