Sight-reading is an important aspect of making music and should in some form become a regular part of a student's routine each time they play their instrument. Regular sight-reading helps the pupil to gain greater confidence when approaching any new piece of music for the first time.

Schott's Sight-Reading books aims to establish the habit early in every student's learning process and the emphasis is on providing idiomatic tunes and structures for the specific instruments rather than sterile sight-reading exercises. Starting from very easy pieces with familiar shapes and rhythms, the range of notes, keys and rhythms gradually develops. In addition to this, each section of the books concludes with duets and accompanied pieces allowing the student to gain experience of sight-reading within the context of ensemble playing. Accompaniment exercises can be found at the end of the piano books.