Sight-reading (early music)

Sight-reading classes focus on three areas of learning: firstly, sight-reading as such, deciphering alone or in a group; secondly, working on orchestral lines for the instruments concerned; and thirdly, studying texts in different styles, including contemporary writing for the harpsichord.

By exploring a repertoire with which students are unfamiliar, this teaching creates the conditions for immediate interpretation without prior work, so that the difficulties identified can be discussed collectively. As well as the pleasure of discovering music by playing it in an ensemble, the aim is to explore the imaginary sounds conveyed by the scores and documents that have been preserved. This course is designed to develop reading skills, whether in relation to manuscripts, facsimiles of different engraving techniques, or the specific features of ancient solfeggios. Reading is covered in all keys, instrumental and vocal scores, scores in modern editions, basso continuo, tablature notation and alfabeto for lute and baroque guitar. Each student, depending on his or her instrument, puts into practice the specific knowledge of metre, tempo, cyphering and style.