Sight Reading

Before you begin your guitar audition you will be given 15 minutes (they go by really fast!) to practice the sight reading material. Most people who can't read very well use this time to warm up. I don't recommend doing this. Instead, arrive an hour early to the audition site, and use that time to warm up, stretch, practice your piece etc.

The gutiar sight reading material is 4 or 5 examples with increasing difficulty, each about 2 - 3 lines long.

• The first example has whole notes and quarter notes usually in the key of "C"
• The second example has whole, quarter and 8th notes, as well as ties and dotted quarter notes. This example usually has at leas 1 or 2 sharps or flats.
• The third and fourth examples include 16th notes, triplets, and are usually in the more difficult keys. The fourth example might have a dotted 8th note. 

 When you are reading the material during your guitar audition, it is important to know that you can play as fast or as slow as you want and keep going if you make a mistake. Never stop in the middle of a reading.

On top of these reading examples you will find the accompanying chords. You will also be asked to play these during your audition. It very important that during your 15 minutes you practice both the note melodies and the chords.

The chords will be mostly 7 chords and some 9 chords.

Familiarize yourself with the following chords

• Minor 7, Major 7 
• Minor 9, Major 9, Flat 9, Sharp 9 (hendrix chord)
• Sharp 5/Flat 13
• Minor 7 flat 5- *This chord is very important. They WILL  ask for this to  played during the audition!!*

Minor 7 Flat(ed) 5th chord

*NOTE* 

You do not need to be an amazing sight reader to receive a scholarship. If your playing skills, improv skills  and ear training skills are better, then the sight reading wont matter that much. I barely got through the second sight reading example, and still received a scholarship. However, if you do amazing on the sight reading part, as well as the playing, ear training and improv part, then you will receive a much higher scholarship.

The best possible way to prepare yourself for the sight reading portion of the Berklee audition is to practice, practice and practice.  I know you probably hear this all the time, but its true. If you practice reading a sheet of music once a day, you will see small improvements in a week, and massive improvements in a month. It is really really simple. consistency of practice will make it a lot easier.

Practice Recommendations 

• Grab "The Real Book" sixth edition from your local music store, and practice one song  a day. The Real Book has all of the standard jazz songs, and most of the 3rd and 4th examples of the sight reading part will be VERY similar to the tunes from this book.
• Reading Studies for Guitar by William Leavitt - Berklee Books 
• Any non guitar reading material, such as violin of clarinet music books will help your reading skills.

Click here to find some practice sight reading material similar to those found during your Berklee audition. You will find the notes, the music and the music minus guitar.

Good Luck, and don't forget to sight read today!

The Berklee Audition Guide