Reading piano sheet music involves deciphering many layers of information. Many piano learners have never learned how to do this. They may try in vain to eat the sheet music elephant all at once. The result is usually discouragement and limited progress. No wonder reading sheet music seems so challenging to many learners!

For today’s video, I break down the process of reading piano sheet music into its three most important elements: the notes, the fingering, and the rhythm. I estimate that 80% of the job of getting music up and running comes down to learning the notes, the fingering, and the rhythm!

Therefore, it makes the most sense to focus on these three areas. Isolating each individually in your sheet music is a sure way to make fast progress. It also increases the likelihood of learning your music well.