Blog
Notes on sight reading, and how musicians actually get better at the piano.
Why do sight-reading apps need a MIDI keyboard?
A MIDI keyboard tells an app exactly which key you pressed and when. A microphone has to work it out from sound. Here is what that difference costs, with the numbers from the transcription research, and why SightReader takes MIDI in and MusicXML in and nothing else.
SightReader can now hear your rhythm
SightReader now checks your timing as well as your notes. Turn on the metronome for Pitch & Rhythm mode: play with the beat, see early and late notes at a glance, and get a rhythm score for every attempt.
SightReader is now on iOS and Android
The SightReader native apps are live on the App Store and Google Play, bringing real hardware MIDI to iPad and iPhone, where the browser never could.
Sight Reading Factory alternatives: an honest comparison (2026)
Looking for a Sight Reading Factory alternative? Where it shines, where it frustrates solo learners, whether it’s free, and the tools worth switching to, including one that listens as you play.
Is there a free sight-reading app? What “free” really means (2026)
A straight answer on free piano sight-reading apps: which have a real free tier, which are only free trials, and what you can practise without paying.
The best sight-reading app for piano teachers
What a piano teacher needs from a sight-reading app (assigning real repertoire, tracking practice between lessons, generating exercises in the lesson) and which tool does which.
Sight reading exercises for adult beginners
Sight reading exercises for adult beginners, from someone who learned piano as an adult: five minutes a day, easy music, and why the hard part is your ego.
How to teach a child piano sight reading
To teach a child piano sight reading, build a short daily routine they enjoy rather than leaning on rewards or pressure. Here’s how to make it stick.
How long does it take to learn piano sight reading?
How long does it take to learn piano sight reading? Five minutes a day shows progress within a month; here are honest timelines by starting level.
Why is piano sight reading so hard?
Piano sight reading is hard because it’s a different skill from playing, and modern learning by imitation makes the gap worse. Here’s why, and the fix.
How to export MusicXML from MuseScore, Sibelius, Finale, and Dorico
A no-nonsense guide to exporting MusicXML from every major notation app, plus what to do with the file once you have it.
How to practise piano sight reading at Initial Grade
What ABRSM, Trinity, LCM, RCM, MTAC and AMEB expect at Initial Grade piano sight reading, how to prepare, and which pieces in SightReader fit the level.
How to practise piano sight reading at Grade 8
What ABRSM, Trinity, LCM, RCM, MTAC and AMEB expect at Grade 8 piano sight reading, how to prepare, and which pieces in SightReader fit the level.
How to practise piano sight reading at Grade 7
What ABRSM, Trinity, LCM, RCM, MTAC and AMEB expect at Grade 7, how to prepare, and which pieces in SightReader fit the level.
How to practise piano sight reading at Grade 6
What ABRSM, Trinity, LCM, RCM, MTAC and AMEB expect at Grade 6, how to prepare for irregular meters and pedalling, and which pieces in SightReader fit the level.
How to practise piano sight reading at Grade 5
What ABRSM, Trinity, LCM, RCM, MTAC and AMEB expect at Grade 5, how to prepare, and which pieces in SightReader fit the level.
How to practise piano sight reading at Grade 4
What ABRSM, Trinity, LCM, RCM, MTAC and AMEB expect at Grade 4 piano sight reading, how to prepare, and which pieces in SightReader fit the level.
How to practise piano sight reading at Grade 3
What ABRSM, Trinity, LCM, RCM, MTAC and AMEB expect at Grade 3 piano sight reading, how to prepare, and which pieces in SightReader fit the level.
How to practise piano sight reading at Grade 2
What ABRSM, Trinity, LCM, RCM, MTAC and AMEB expect at Grade 2 piano sight reading, how to prepare, and which pieces in SightReader fit the level.
How to practise piano sight reading at Grade 1
What ABRSM, Trinity, LCM, RCM, MTAC and AMEB expect at Grade 1, how to prepare, and which pieces in SightReader fit the level.
How to improve piano sight reading: working smarter, not harder
A practical approach to piano sight reading, drawn from neuroscience research on how musicians actually learn. Five minutes a day, done right.