"First Try, Best Try" – A Sightreading and Reflection Activity

Objective: Students will explore sightreading not just as a musical skill, but as a moment to show courage, focus, and growth. Through guided reflection and a simple classroom activity, students will understand that sightreading is about doing their best in the moment, not being perfect.

Assignment: "First Try, Best Try" – A Sightreading and Reflection Activity

Overview: Students will participate in a sightreading challenge that helps them build confidence and awareness. The focus is not on playing perfectly, but on trying bravely, staying focused, and noticing how they feel when something is unfamiliar.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Short Discussion (5–7 minutes): Tell your students: "Sightreading is when you try something for the first time. It shows how well you can think musically and stay calm under pressure. Today, we're going to practice being brave—not perfect."
2. The Challenge: Give students a short 4- to 8-measure excerpt they have not seen before (choose something accessible for their level).
3. Quiet Prep (1 minute): Ask students to look at the music silently for 60 seconds. Prompt them with these questions:
   • What key is it in?
   • What's the time signature?
   • Where are the rests?
   • Can you sing the first few notes in your head?
4. Play the Excerpt: Students play the excerpt one time only. No restarting. Encourage them to keep going even if they make a mistake.
5. Quick Reflection (3–5 minutes): On an index card or short handout, students answer:
   • What part of that went better than I expected?
   • What part was challenging?
   • How did I feel when something didn't go perfectly?

Simple Rubric (Total: 20 Points)

Grade Scale:
• 18–20 = A
• 15–17 = B
• 12–14 = C
• Below 12 = Incomplete (invite to retry)

"The Audition Within the Audition" – A Sightreading Character Study

Objective: Students will explore the role of sightreading not only as a technical skill but as a reflection of character, courage, and musical identity. Through narrative engagement and personal reflection, students will evaluate how their mindset impacts performance under pressure and apply sightreading strategies with greater self-awareness.

Assignment Overview: After reading "Begin With Naked Courage," students will complete a two-part assignment designed to develop their understanding of sightreading as a holistic skill that includes emotional resilience, musical fluency, and personal authenticity.

PART 1: REFLECTIVE WRITING
Write a 1–2 page reflection responding to the following prompts:

• What does sightreading currently feel like for you—technically and emotionally?
• In what ways did the violinist in the article challenge your view of sightreading?
• Kai says she stopped treating sightreading like a test and started telling a story. What does that mean to you, and how could that change your approach?
• Describe a moment in your life (musical or otherwise) when you had to "begin with naked courage." What did you learn from that experience?

Encourage students to be honest, specific, and thoughtful. This is not about having perfect answers—it's about discovering your mindset.

PART 2: SIGHTREADING DEMONSTRATION
Students will be given a short piece or excerpt at their current grade level (unseen prior to this class) and asked to:

• Scan and audibly "talk through" their preparation steps before playing (counting, time signature, key, etc.)
• Perform the excerpt as musically and expressively as possible, even if errors occur
• Reflect (briefly, aloud or written) on what went well, what challenged them, and how they responded emotionally during the reading

This is a safe space to model bravery, not perfection.

Grading Rubric

Grading Scale for the "Audition Within the Audition" Assignment
Total Possible Points: 50
(Each of the 5 categories is scored out of 10 points.)

Sightreading and Courage: What Your Child Is Learning in Music Class

Dear __________________ Families,

I want to take a moment to share something important—something we've been focusing on in music class that goes far beyond learning notes and rhythms.

It's called sightreading, and it's the skill of playing or singing music at first glance, without having seen it before. For many middle school students, this can feel intimidating at first.

And that's okay. Sightreading isn't about being perfect—it's about staying calm when things feel new or uncertain.

This week, we've been using a powerful article from Accoladi.com titled "Begin with Naked Courage" to help students reframe how they see this part of music-making. The story follows a group of high school musicians visiting a world-famous conservatory—and the legendary violinist who challenges them to see sightreading not as a test, but as a moment to tell their musical story.

It's a great message for all of us.

Sightreading helps young musicians:

• Build confidence when they're faced with something unfamiliar.
• Practice courage in front of others.
• Learn to recover from mistakes without giving up.
• Be present and expressive, even in brand-new situations.

These are skills they'll carry with them far beyond the stage.

Your child may never become a professional performer—and that's okay. But the confidence they build through music class, especially in moments like sightreading, will serve them in every classroom, every job, every challenge they face in life.

I encourage you to take a moment and read the article at Accoladi.com. You'll find it under the title: "Begin with Naked Courage." It's not just for music teachers—it's for parents who want to better understand what their children are learning behind the music.

Thank you for supporting our music program. Your encouragement at home means the world.

Musically Yours,

_________________________________________________
[Director's Name and Position]

_______________________________________________________
[School Name]

Why Sightreading Is About More Than Music

Dear __________________ Parents,
Director's Name School Name

There's a moment in every young musician's life when the music stand is set, the room falls quiet, and a brand-new piece of music is placed in front of them. No warm-up. No second try. Just a single shot to interpret, express, and endure.

That moment is called sightreading, and it's one of the most vulnerable—and important—skills we teach.

For students, sightreading is often misunderstood. It feels scary. It feels like a test. But at its core, it's not about perfection. It's about showing up. It's about how they respond when things don't go as planned. And it reveals something far deeper than notes and rhythms: it reveals resilience, focus, discipline, and courage.

This week in our program, we've been reflecting on a powerful article from Accoladi.com called "Begin With Naked Courage: Sightreading—The Moment You Show Who You Are." It follows a group of high school orchestra students who visit a world-famous conservatory—and what happens when one legendary violinist turns their understanding of sightreading upside down.

She doesn't talk about being "perfect." She talks about being honest. Brave. Present.

I encourage you to read the article for yourself. Not just because it's beautifully written, but because it echoes what we're trying to instill in your students every day. When your child sightreads, they are not being judged for what they don't know—they are being trained for life's unpredictable moments. The ones that come without warning. The ones where character rises.

Sightreading teaches music. But it also teaches humility, adaptability, and heart.

Thank you for trusting us with your student's growth. And thank you for cheering them on—especially when the notes are unfamiliar, and the courage has to come from deep within.

Warmly,

___________________________________________________
[Director's Name and Position]

_________________________________________________________
[School Name]