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I've playing nearly 2 weeks now, and have taken after learning what the notes are and where on music staff (C and F clef) I,m reading everything I play. It's slow going to start with but I want to get over a main hurdle before my initial enthusiasm fades a little. I'm up to Alternate Hands with Mikrocosmos and I can just about read ahead one note. As I am self teaching (Can't afford lessons) I'm interested as to what anyone recommends in terms of what I should be practising. Am I making it hard for myself ?

That's probably the G and F clefs. If you are, in fact, reading from the C clef, then I would not worry too much about rate of progress!

Ed

oops yes the G and F clefs.

I am about 5 weeks new had to learn to read music now i am learn to play piano, When i started sight reading i just started learning the notes on G then F, then using basic sheet music read the notes as i play them one by one, There comes a point where you will need to learn intervals if you want to go faster, One other point is if your getting a bit bored with sight reading do something else like - scales - or learn an easy song then go back to sight reading .

The best thing you can do is encounter as much music as possible over a long period of time. Preferably music of different styles. The Bartok is great, but it might progress too fast for you. As long as you are able to do well with it continue. Just be sure to look at more "beginner" things. Perhaps a method book like Hal Leonard's Adult Method would be a good place to start. A method book at least introduces things in an order that makes sense to help you build skills upon already learned skills rather than jumping around or guessing.

I don't know what you mean by "making it hard for [your]self." If you were trying to piece out some advanced piece by Chopin or Mozart, then, sure you are.
But if you're taking it one note at a time, slowly, with the hands separate--then no. You're doing just what you should.
Morodiene's advice is the best. Just take it slowly, every day, over a looooong period of time. This is a brand new skill, and it's not going to come quickly. A good adult beginner course (note Alfred's in these forums) is a good place to start.
But don't overlook very elementary books--those designed for children. Remember, you ARE a beginner, no matter what your age. When I started in my 50s, I got some of those really fundamental books for a couple of bucks each and worked through them. Yes, the tunes were childish and simple, but they were just what I needed to get some confidence reading the notes--especially both clefs at the same time.