yes, its possible to learn sight-reading by yourself. You just need to follow some steps:
1. Prepare yourself to totally concentrate, and set a timer so that you won’t be distracted by anything
2. Read bigger chunks of music
3. Recognizing rhythms and patterns
4. The last step is learn from your mistakes
Anything that one person can do can be learned without help. The teacher does not do your mental work for you. A good fundamental education is just the doorway to a lifetime of mental development. Of course self-reliance might not lead to "greatness" but that's not usually my objective.
Many people will disagree with me. A "book-loving" neighbor wants to learn web design so I offered her some books on HTML and JavaScript. For free! She declined because she only wants to learn through an online course.
Like was mentioned above it is possible. I am still in my beginning of study piano, but slowly different skills are improving. You asked about app, well I am learning using app and it covers many things, sight reading included. For sure it is great to have access to somebody who will lead you through difficulties, but in my case using app keeps me going forward. I am thinking now to have teacher as an part of my piano study but mainly I am using app. You can check links to it under this video:
I've noticed that when you can read a bit, it is great exercise to switch from app into notes and try to figure out how to play by yourself. I am using this exercise for simple pieces of music, like I mentioned I am not that advanced yet... but on the way to play one day more difficult pieces and read them as well. By practising anything is achievable and possible. Good luck.
I was taught how to sight read by my organ teacher during my first year (of 6) private organ studies.
This was one of the most valuable tools for me to ever acquire, one that I still use to this day. In fact, the ability to sight read was one of the reasons I was hired for my latest church position, some 53 years after that first year of lessons.
I have found it to be very useful especially when a soloist springs a totally unknown piece on my, for me to accompany them.
I learned the hard way - without internet - without email - without apps. Having a teacher/tutor is the best way to go, imho.
I think of sight reading as being similar to reading speed for books. I don't read books quickly, but one of my sisters can devour a book in a fraction of the time it takes me.
On the other hand, I've always been able to sight read, but my sister generally cannot. That doesn't mean we both can't improve in our weak areas, it just means it's not a built-in skill for us.
I say yes. Of the 4 private teachers (and several school Band Directors) I had 40-50 years ago, I don't recall any of them teaching me anything about sight reading. One thing I can recommend is when you sight read something, really concentrate beacuse---- You can only sight read something once (after that it's practicing). When you get old enough you have to really scratch around to find something you haven't seen before.....
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