How to use Sight-read: learn notes and chords at your own pace

Sight-read in Metronaut moves the score cursor along with your playing, without track audio, so you can learn notes and chords at your own pace. It is useful for sight-reading: focus on pitch first, without having to keep up with an accompaniment.

Turn on Sight-read

1. Open a piece and tap or click Modes in the score toolbar.
2. Select Sight-read. Allow microphone access if requested, or use a connected MIDI instrument.
3. If the piece offers piano hand versions, choose the left hand, right hand or both hands in the selected mode.
4. Press Play (▶) and play your part. The cursor advances when you play the expected note or chord.

AI Feedback is a separate control in the main score toolbar. It is on by default in Metronaut 9; leave it on for visual feedback and evaluation, or turn it off if you prefer.

You can change modes whenever your practice goal changes. They are not stages you must complete in a fixed order.

Why is there no accompaniment in Sight-read?

This mode deliberately plays neither the accompaniment nor the recording of your part. You hear your own instrument or voice, rather than track playback, while you read and play. There are no track-mute controls in this mode.

To hear the piece before practicing, choose Listen in Modes. To play with an available accompaniment at your selected speed, choose Practice. For accompaniment that follows your tempo, choose Interpret (AI Tempo) in a native app. The piece needs an accompaniment for those modes to provide one.

Can I earn XP in Sight-read?

Yes. AI Feedback enables visual feedback and scoring/experience points (XP) with Sight-read, just as with the practice and tempo-following modes. See Leagues, Streaks and Ranks for how progress is presented.

Why is the cursor not moving with my playing?

Metronaut needs to receive your playing through a microphone or connected MIDI instrument. Check that you are playing the expected notes in the selected version. If input is not detected, check permissions and the input connection using the microphone and MIDI troubleshooting guide.

Available modes depend on your platform and input capabilities. See the platform comparison if a control is unavailable.

Was this called Wait mode?

Yes. Sight-read is the mode formerly called Wait. You now select it in Modes, not in the Tempo panel.

Related articles

• Set the tempo and use Practice
• Use Interpret (AI Tempo) for phrasing and expression
• Use AI Feedback and scoring
• Choose piano hands or another version