Sight-reading exercises in F major (F position)

What level 15 adds

The right hand plays from the F above middle C, in halves and quarters, by step and skip. The left hand holds whole and half notes on the chord roots in F position below. The flat on the B line of each staff applies to every B.

What to watch for

• B flat: in F position it falls under the fourth finger of the right hand, so that finger plays a black key.
• F position vs C position: the hand moves up a fourth (right hand) and the notes under each finger all change.
• The flat sign in the key signature sits on the middle line of the treble staff and the second line of the bass staff: both are B.

How to practise it

• Say “B flat” before playing, and put the right fourth finger on it to feel the position.
• Compare with level 14: G major has one sharp, F major one flat. Check the key signature every time.
• Use “New exercise” for several in a row: the more often you meet B flat, the sooner you stop thinking about it.

Each exercise is new music, written for this level by the same generator the app uses, so you can’t have learned it by ear. Read it once before you play, keep a steady beat, and play on through mistakes. Play it yourself checks your notes from a MIDI keyboard, the mouse or your computer keys, and Print gives you the music alone, to read at the piano.