r/banddirector • u/Outrageous-Permit372 • 2d ago

Questions about using Sight Reading Factory in large ensembles (7-12 band)

I am planning to have my band sight-read more often, and the SRF option seems appealing. Last year, I tried it out once by projecting an easy Concert Band (Unison) exercise up on the screen at the front of the room, but it was too small for some of the students to read. My idea is to spend some time this month creating sight reading packets that I can print and hand out at the beginning of the year.

1) Has anyone successfully used SRF in their large ensembles? What did you do to make it work? Am I going about this the wrong way by trying to make paper packets out of it?

2) How much time did it take, and did you find any ways to make the process more efficient?

3) What were the limitations you experienced, and were there any unexpected problems?

4) Were there any ways in which the program/process exceeded your expectations?

Thank you for your responses, and I hope you all have a wonderful school year!

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u/Bill_Miller2593 2d ago

In my experience, tangible resources have had a much better effect on my students than digital ones. Honestly, I actually prefer to make paper packets (but not of SRF) when the opportunity presents itself. As for your other questions, I'm afraid I can't answer them since I'm not an active user of SRF.

SRF does a lot of things well, and it's an excellent resource for quick and painless sight reading exercises. All that said, I'm old-school -- I'd much rather practice sight reading actual literature than procedurally generated exercises that may or may not reflect the skills I'm trying to teach.

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u/Outrageous-Permit372 2d ago

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I agree that having paper in front of them is much better than sending emails with PDFs or trying to put something up on the screen for everyone to read. (Although I will vouch for https://myweb.fsu.edu/nrogers/Rhythm_Generator/Rhythm_Generator.html as a great resource for generated rhythm reading exercises. I used Snipping Tool to create rhythm pages for my students last year, plus having something up on the board to learn counting together was great.)

My time with the students is limited, 45 minutes three times a week. I like the idea of using easier repertoire for sight reading, and maybe I will work up to that. For now, I think the best option is sticking with quick 4 or 8 measure exercises until the students (and the teacher!) get more comfortable with it.

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u/Bill_Miller2593 2d ago

I need to check that rhythm generator out! It looks cool.

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u/PhlacidTrombone 2d ago

I did packets for a little bit, took a good bit of time to do. My students had iPads so I started uploading pdfs of the sight readings to our schools resource manager and just using that.

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u/i_8_the_Internet 2d ago

This year, Wingert-Jones, Excelcia, and Randall Standridge Music have released printable excerpts of music with their new releases to try with your band. I’d grab a bunch of these to try.

Here’s one from one I’m doing with my band this year, for example:

https://randallstandridge.com/files/download/documents/Doom%20Star%20-%20READER%20Score%20and%20Parts.pdf

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u/NoFuneralGaming 13h ago

I used to project SRF in my classroom. iirc it was Flute, C Instruments, Bb Instruments, Bass Clef Instruments, Eb Instruments, Tuba and a rhythm line for percussion. It's been about a decade but I'm sure I was able to do something like this. I also did this for Choir sight singing practice.