I've discovered that when I sight read music I have a habit of "Assuming" what the next few notes will be. Usually I'm right but once an unexpected note comes along, I get thrown off guard and end up stopping. How do I break this habit?

Note: I'm sorry I make so many Forums. I discover new problems every time i play and I try to save you the trouble of having to answer a dozen questions in one forum.

I would suggest playing each piece VERY slowly at first, concentrating as much as possible, at least until you break the habit. (Slow practice is a good idea anyway.)

OH yes, slow practice is a good idea. OH how i dread slow practice:0..I'm the kind of person who wants to rush when i'm playing. And when i get a new piece i'll start playing it up to tempo. Slow practice helped me to be picky about every note..articulation.etc.
It's not fun..but it's worth it!

Penny, good sightreaders are always good at scales, always think in the tonality of what you are playing above all else, also, when sightreading fast notes, try to find the melodic structure, that should help

Ooh yes i agree! I haven't been sight reading for quite a while. I thought i was good at sight reading since i used to play the piano..and i knew all my notes.
Hhmm..i'll start working on my scales. It's been a long while..^_^

OOH, i'm on a different computer..not mine that i usually use. AND the edit button is gone!
ANyways, i have a question. I've been having trouble with tone again. I'm not consistent having a good tone. I'll have my really bad days A LOT..and somedays it'll be amazing. IT"S so confusing and i try to figure out what's wrong. I gave up!..
DO you guys have this problem too? Inconsistent tone issues? Do i need more practice..because no matter how long i practice the inconsisten tone issue..keeps occuring. Some days are good and some days are horrible..

SG, I still work on tone exercises each day after playing flute for 34 years, music is somewhat athletic that way, your tone is like a plant you need to care for, cultivate and nurture

email me if you want some exercises

ahhh..thanks.^_^ I can't give up now! I always think working on tone exercises is for beginners. I guess i need to put away all my music and start concentrating on tone. I have some tone sheets at home so i'll try that..

I also lift weights each day and roller blade, bike, stair machine as well, music requires mind, body, spirit, intellect and most of all, love.

I pretty good at scales.

Also, most famous flautists have tone exercises.

This link has a list of famous flautists: http://www.mostlywind.co.uk/famflaut.html

This link is to a page of James Galway: http://www.thegalwaynetwork.com/ There is audio exercises and i swear I my tone and vibrato got twice as better after I listened to them.

<Added>

http://www.thegalwaynetwork.com/chatfile/chatfile.htm

this is a link to his audio files

I've heard that some people swear by Trevor Wye's exercise books. Are these the sorts of exercises people are talking about? And is it suitable for beginners? I saw one once and it didn't look that great, although that was more to do with the production of the book than the actual content. (Never judge a book by...etc)

many of the exercises flutists around the world go back to a source from many years ago and mutate and grow as different teachers expand and develop them, make up your own tone exerices, be creative, that is how you get a great tone

many of the exercises flutists around the world go back to a source from many years ago and mutate and grow as different teachers expand and develop them, make up your own tone exerices, be creative, that is how you get a great tone