What educators are saying

“I’ve now had two days with 4-min mastery, and am already so excited with the results. My grade 8 boys, motivated by clear indications of progress, were more focused with sight singing than I’ve EVER seen before. (It didn’t hurt that I told them the grade 6 had achieved level 0.2 #2 in their first 4 minutes). This program is not too far off from what my kids are used to doing every day, but the idea of doing it until 100% of the group has achieved success, and the measurability of success, is unique and promising. I also love the sequence of rhythm to melody to part singing.”

Lisa Ross
MS Choir Director, The American School, London

“After I retired I joined a Women’s Choir here in Bellingham called Vox Pacifica.  Our director doesn’t have time for teaching sight reading during our 2 hour weekly rehearsal so many singers end up hosting sectionals in their homes each week.  Although we have several former music teachers, some of the singers have asked to learn to sight-read.  I volunteered to help.  I have used several sight reading methods over the years, but yours is the absolute best.  I got such good results in a short amount of time and the students although tentative at first really ended up loving it.  Many said they could sight read SO much better than their classmates in college.  It gave them a lot of confidence!”

Linda Short
Retired choral conductor, Bellingham, Washington

“Sight reading is key in creating musically literate choral singers. The 4-Minute Mastery program is an essential tool in my classroom.  It is quick, easy to use and my students feel successful.”

Barbara Tappa
Director of Choirs, Ferris High School, Spokane, Washington
Washington State Music Educator of the Year, 2016

“4 Minute Mastery has TRANSFORMED the choir program at South Albany High School.  It has allowed me to de-mystify sight-singing with its methodic structure.  Students are engaged in the curriculum and their reading skills have increased exponentially.  Our main feeder, Calapooia Middle School has started using the program as well, allowing there to be a seamless transition from their middle school learning to high school.  I highly recommend 4 Minute Mastery to any choir director looking for a way to encourage their students to move from being ‘singers’ to ‘musicians’!

“My kids are TOTALLY buying in to 4-Minute Mastery.  I am not surprised by this.  Simply grateful for their understanding of how this can help their PMA  their Personal Musical Accountability.  This is our mantra for the year!”

“I was talking to colleagues about music literacy and sight-singing practice, and the 4 minute mastery books were brought up multiple times in multiple different conversations, which is how I heard about you. I am new to teaching, and wanted something that I could work with, rather than trying to reinvent the wheel!”

“Teaching sight reading is an investment of time which benefits your choir and each singer. 4 minute mastery covers the basics of choral music reading in an organized and concise manner and allows me to work on the necessary skills daily without taking large chunks of rehearsal time.”

“I am extremely impressed with the 4 Minute Mastery Books I purchased several years ago.  The 3 books move forward in a very thoughtful, sequential, and helpful way for a variety of students.  Several years ago our region added a sight reading component to our Large Group Assessment/Festival which has been added to our final scores in the last 2 years.  Choir Directors choose between beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels.  My beginning choir does the beginning level and has been extremely successful.  They might be able to handle the intermediate level, but I want them to experience as much success as possible during their first sight reading assessment.  My next two choirs have chosen the advanced level the last few years and have nailed the sight reading portion each year.  Of course, much more importantly, my students have become confident sight readers, and graduating seniors come back after auditioning for college music programs and tell me they are some of the very best sight readers in their choirs and their peers are amazed at their skill.  They all tell current students over and over that while they may say they ‘HATE to practice sight reading,’ they LOVE to be able to do it and to do it SO WELL!”

“Using foundations of choral mastery (middle school curriculum) and 4 Minute Mastery (high school curriculum) has been incredibly successful for my growing middle choral program.  I adopted this the same year as the high school program I feed, and it has created a great sense of awareness and confidence in my students.  They know that what I’m covering will continue in the same format as they head into high school.  Overall, my students sight reading ability has seen incredible growth.  We went to our first competition that included sight reading and the adjudicator was impressed with my students’ abilities!  My kids ask to do two pages from time to time to get “ahead” of other choirs :)!  Those who don’t love it also know that in approximately 5 minutes of focus I will move on!  I also appreciate the way each lesson builds on theory concepts and introduces new notes.  I love this curriculum and I know I’m giving my students the best opportunities to be successful in my classroom and their musical future through using these materials!”