Pre-Reading Checklist: K-M-T-R-T
Flashcards on the five-step scan every sight-reader does before playing a note.
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Study Smart Tips for Pre-Reading Checklist: K-M-T-R-T
Master these concepts using proven study techniques that actually work:
Active Recall
Test yourself before flipping each card to strengthen memory retention
Spaced Repetition
Review difficult cards more frequently than easy ones
Multiple Sessions
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Explain Aloud
Verbalize answers to reinforce understanding
Questions Covered in This Set
10 cards to master
What does the mnemonic K-M-T-R-T stand for?
Key, Meter, Tempo, Range, Trouble spots — the five-step pre-reading scan.
How long should a pre-reading scan take?
About 15–30 seconds before you play the first note.
When checking the Key, what two things should you say out loud?
The key name (e.g. 'two sharps — D major') and which notes are altered ('every F and C is raised').
How can the final note or chord help you?
It usually confirms the tonic and tells you whether you're in the major or relative minor.
What is a pickup (anacrusis) and how does it affect counting?
An incomplete first bar; e.g. one beat in 4/4 means you start counting on beat 4.
What tempo should you choose for a first sight-reading pass?
Slower than marked — around 60% speed, with no stops.
Why check the range before playing?
Naming the lowest and highest notes prevents starting in the wrong octave or hand position.
Name four typical 'trouble spots' to hunt for.
Accidentals outside the key, ledger-line notes, dotted/syncopated rhythms, big leaps, repeats or D.C./D.S., mid-piece key or meter changes.
Why does the checklist work?
Sight-reading fails from surprise; resolving items in advance frees attention for the notes.
In 6/8, what do you usually feel?
Two big pulses of three eighth notes each.
