Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • intransitive verb To read or perform (music, for example) without preparation or prior acquaintance.
  • intransitive verb To read or perform something on sight without preparation or prior acquaintance.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb perform music from a score without having seen the score before

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word sight-read.

Examples

  • Then we look for basic ability to sight-read tonal music i.e., in the classical style of Bach, Brahms or traditional folk song.

    The Master of Many Choruses Barrymore Laurence Scherer 2011

  • Through my chorus teacher, I went for the NYSSMA Evaluation Festivals where I was to perform a song and sight-read notes that were relevant to my level of singing in front of a judge that gave me a grade and comments on a long sheet of paper.

    Sarah Yu: You Don't Have to Win 'American Idol' to be a Singer! Sarah Yu 2011

  • And after the applicants sing arias in the vocal style of a soloist, they are asked to sight-read the selection with a more self-effacing choral tone.

    The Master of Many Choruses Barrymore Laurence Scherer 2011

  • "But," he said, "the more you play auditions the less you have to sight-read, because at this point I know 85% to 90% of the songs people bring me."

    Didn't Get That Role? Don't Blame the Piano Player Joanne Kaufman 2011

  • Because of prior arrangements, or perhaps because of laziness, Mozart did not get the sheet music to Strinassachi until the day of the performance, meaning she sight-read the entire sonata.

    Author Carrie Lofty on When Regina Met Mozart Elizabeth Kerri Mahon 2010

  • Because of prior arrangements, or perhaps because of laziness, Mozart did not get the sheet music to Strinassachi until the day of the performance, meaning she sight-read the entire sonata.

    Archive 2010-06-01 Elizabeth Kerri Mahon 2010

  • The guy for whom it was commissioned has this amazing gift to sight-read.

    Even Bach Needed Goldberg 2009

  • I mean, I'd find it fun to read through new stuff, but an awful lot of new music is too hard for me to sight-read.

    Compare and Contrast 16 Lisa Hirsch 2009

  • Singing with them was a unique experience — unlike Indian musicians they calculate beats, they sight-read, nothing is memorized.

    The Vocal Vamp of Bollywood 2008

  • I did scales, I sight-read music, and talked about my goals.

    Archive 2008-08-01 ~ bianca ~* 2008

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.