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To be a good sight reader you have to be good at recognizing patterns and also be able to look ahead at the next measure as you are actually playing the measure before it. That is what etudes can do for you, it’s all about pattern recognition. Slow your playing down to allow you to look ahead. Look for basic patterns in the left hand then only look at the note it is starting on, you don’t need to “look” at each note when you know it is a 1,3,5 chord, just look at the first note then let your eyes move on or up to what the right hand is doing. Also as far as muscle memory you have to practice only 3rd’s, then only 4ths, then only 6ths over and over to get the “feel” of the space between fingers. A good book for this is Harp Exercises for Agility and Speed by Deborah Friou. When I look at music I can easily “see” it’s a 3rd or 4th and my hand and fingers already know what that feels like, how much space to put between them. All said, sight reading well is when you have already mastered intermediate playing and can play without having to constantly look at either of your hands. I use all kinds of symbols such as ^ to mark 2nd’s then o between 3rds to quickly know where to put my fingers. You CAN do it and I admire any player to challenge themselves to try sight reading everyday. It is one tool that you can use to become a better player. I try to sight read new tunes every few days, it keeps my skills for recognizing patterns sharper.
Now get back to your harp and make it happen!!!
