Decades ago, I could sightread just about anything. I could also sightread a concert chart and transpose it to Bb Tenor sax for any of the head charts in the Real Book or other Fake Books.

But that's when I was doing it all the time. Like any skill, it takes practice, and the more you do it, the better you get at it.

However, for over 30 years I've been in a duo where everything is pretty much memorized, so I think I'd have to woodshed at sightreading before going to an audition like that.

I make my own backing tracks for my duo http://www.s-cats.com and having the luxury of time, I look over the music, and remembering my first band instructor in school, count-out any tricky parts. He would say, "If you can say it, you can play it."

I make the tracks with a drum controller or keyboard, and I've never been a sightreader on the keyboard. Sax/wind-synthesizer is my main instrument. Drums, bass, guitar, and keys are just doubles.

I would have practiced sightreading a few books like the "Charlie Parker Omnibook" and gone to the audition. If I didn't get the gig, I'd at least know what I needed to improve.

BTW, back in the late 1980s our duo did cruise ships for 3 years on a 3-weeks with options contract. A lot has changed in the cruise industry since then, so I don't know if it still holds true, but it was a lot of fun.

I did Carnival cruise lines, and they treated us well. Years later, I did 2 months at RCL/Celebrity, and they treated their staff like dirt. I jumped ship as soon as our contract was up.

Notes ♫

Bob "Notes" Norton smile Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com

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