Practice+Sight+Reading

Practice Sight Readingis an online tool which generates random rhythm notation for the purpose of sightreading practice

Strengths
 * Offers sound advice on good sightreading technique
 * Difficulty level is in the users' hands - by entering a few simple criteria, including time signature, tempo, and complexity level of notation, the student can create an exercise at the appropriate level in seconds.
 * playback of rhythm to compare student accuracy to correct rhythms
 * requires no special hardware or software downloads beyond a flash player and audio card
 * length of sample chosen by user
 * exercises are printable

Weaknesses
 * No pitch included in notation, strictly rhythm reading
 * assumes a basic knowledge of music notation and theory, only appropriate as a practice tool
 * No direct feedback or scoring of accuracy - if a student can't hear the difference between what they played and what the computer plays, they won't be able to judge errors
 * Due to the different sizes of the measures in mixed meters, the the lines are not the same length and the measures may wrap in the middle of the measure.

Opportunities Infinite amount of practice possible since rhythms are generated anew for each input

Threats NONE

Ideas for the Classroom Set up a sightreading rhythm workstation and allow students to practice on headphones Print up samples to use in full ensemble settings, and compare performance to the computer playback for accuracy