How It Works

Everything you need to get started with Sight Reader.

Getting Started

1

Connect

Plug in a MIDI keyboard via USB, or use the built-in virtual piano with your laptop keyboard.

2

Pick a Piece

Browse the library and choose a piece that matches your level.

3

Play Along

Notes light up green or red as you play. The score advances automatically when you play the right notes.

Connecting a MIDI Device

What you need

Any MIDI keyboard or digital piano with a USB output. Most keyboards under £50 work perfectly — you don't need anything fancy. If your keyboard has a USB-B port, you'll need a USB-B to USB-A (or USB-C) cable.

USB connection

  1. Connect your MIDI keyboard to your computer with a USB cable.
  2. Open a piece in the library and select MIDI as your input method.
  3. Your device should appear in the dropdown. Select it and click Connect.
  4. If the browser asks for permission to use MIDI devices, click Allow.

Bluetooth MIDI

If your keyboard supports Bluetooth MIDI, pair it in your operating system's Bluetooth settings first. Once paired, it will appear in the MIDI device dropdown in the app.

Browser support

The Web MIDI API is supported in Chrome, Edge, and Opera. Safari and Firefox do not currently support it. If you're on an unsupported browser, use the virtual piano instead.

Troubleshooting

  • No devices showing up? Refresh the page after plugging in your keyboard.
  • Try a different USB port or cable.
  • Make sure no other application (e.g. a DAW) is using the MIDI device.
  • On macOS, check Audio MIDI Setup to verify your device is recognised.
  • On Windows, check Device Manager under "Sound, video and game controllers".

Using the Virtual Piano

No MIDI keyboard? You can play using your laptop keyboard. Select Virtual Piano on the practice page to see the key mapping.

Upper row (octave 4)
White keys Q W E R T Y U = C D E F G A B
Sharps 2 3   5 6 7 = C# D#   F# G# A#
Lower row (octave 3)
White keys Z X C V B N M = C D E F G A B
Sharps S D   G H J = C# D#   F# G# A#

The virtual piano covers two octaves (C3–B4), which is enough for beginner pieces. For intermediate and advanced pieces, a MIDI keyboard is recommended.

Reading the Score

When you start a practice session, a cursor highlights the current position in the score. Play the note(s) shown at the cursor to advance.

  • Green — you played the correct note.
  • Red — you played the wrong note. The score still advances so you can keep going.
  • Chords — when multiple notes appear at the same position, play all of them before the cursor advances.

Your accuracy is displayed in real time at the bottom of the score. When you reach the end of the piece, a summary card shows your results.

Tracking Your Progress

Every time you finish a piece, your session is saved automatically. Visit the Progress page to review your history.

  • Sessions are colour-coded by accuracy — green for strong, red for areas to improve.
  • See total sessions played, average accuracy, and how many pieces you've tried.
  • All data is stored locally in your browser — nothing is sent to a server.

Tips for Practising

Start easy

Begin with difficulty 1 pieces. Build confidence before moving up.

Read ahead

While playing the current note, glance at the next one. This is the core skill of sight reading.

Don't look at your hands

Keep your eyes on the score. Develop a feel for the keyboard by touch.

Little and often

Even 10 minutes a day builds muscle memory. Consistency beats marathon sessions.

Use retry

Hit "Try Again" after finishing a piece to immediately practise it again and improve your accuracy.

About

Sight Reader is built by Bret Cameron, a professional software engineer who is also learning piano on the side. After struggling to find an app that focused purely on sight-reading practice, I decided to build one. This is that app!