All grades
Notation Practice

Notation Practice

How we build these

A standalone set for practising specific notations, one at a time. Each piece takes a single marking and explains what it means and how it sounds. Everything sits between C3 and G5, so the on-screen piano works too.

Every level in this track is free.

Rhythm & Duration

N.1
Rests
Sight reading
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Ties
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Dotted Rhythms
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Double & Triple Dots
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Tuplets
Sight reading

Pitch & Accidentals

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Accidentals & Enharmonics
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Tricky Accidentals
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Key Signatures
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Courtesy Accidentals
Sight reading

Notes & Chords

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Grace Notes
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Chords
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Arpeggiated Chords
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Multi-Voice
Sight reading

Ornaments & Expression

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Trills
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Mordents & Turns
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Tremolo
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Fermata
Sight reading

Octave Shifts

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8va & 8vb
Sight reading
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15ma & 15mb
Sight reading
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Clef Changes
Sight reading

Repeats & Navigation

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Simple Repeats
Sight reading
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Volta Brackets
Sight reading
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DC al Coda
Sight reading
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DS al Fine
Sight reading

More Notations

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Note Values
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Time Signatures
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Articulations
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Dynamics
Sight reading

Grade certificates

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Notation Practice certificate

SightReader is not affiliated with or endorsed by ABRSM.

Frequently asked questions

What do Notation Practice sight-reading exercises cover?

A standalone set for practising specific notations, one at a time. Each piece takes a single marking and explains what it means and how it sounds. Everything sits between C3 and G5, so the on-screen piano works too.

How many levels are in Notation Practice?

Notation Practice has 28 levels. Each is a short exercise newly written to that grade’s parameters, and they run in order so every level builds on the one before it. Stars record how clean each run was, and your best score for a level is the one that sticks.

How do I know if I’m ready for Notation Practice?

Try the placement check — three minutes, no account needed. As a rule your sight-reading grade sits a grade or two below the repertoire you play, so if you are learning Grade 5 pieces then Grade 3 reading is a realistic place to begin.

Are Notation Practice exercises the same as the real exam test?

No. Real exam tests use unseen, single-use music given to you on the day, and we are not affiliated with ABRSM or endorsed by them. Ours are newly written to the same published parameters — keys, time signatures, hand position, length — so the difficulty matches.

Is Notation Practice free?

The first five levels of every grade from Initial to Grade 5 are free to everyone. Beyond that — the later levels, and Grades 6, 7 and 8 in full — needs Pro at £5 a month. The free tier has no time limit and no card.

What happens when I finish Notation Practice?

You get a certificate you can download as a PDF or share by link, and the next grade opens. Levels count as complete only on hands-together runs: practising one hand records your accuracy and timing, but does not tick the level off or advance the grade.