Does anyone have any tips as to the best way to approach sight-reasing a 4 part Bach chorale, or harmonising figured bass at sight? Both of these are standard university requirements for Music and get tested at interview for the top universities. I'm getting the hang of them, but would appreciate any hints form people who are "real" pianists!

I do a lot of sightreading of four part harmony in church - eg hymn tunes. My advice is to concentrate on getting the melody and the bass throughout and add the alto and tenor parts in as often as possible. It's important to keep a sense of line as well as reading the vertical chords.

It would be useful to get a traditional hymn book to practice from as these are probably the types of textures you will encounter. After a lot of practice I tend to read the triads rather than seeing them as four separate lines (not technically correct, but helps to get your head around playing one, if you can think in term of chords I, IV, V etc).

I have done college auditions at RNCM, RCM and RAM if you have any other questions and would like advice - good luck!