• Look at the score
  • Note the tempo marking, key and time signatures, textures and tessituras
  • Mark with a highlighter important beat-groupings, rhythmic segments, or even bar lines
• Listen without the score to familiarise yourself with the style of the music
  • Count the pulse while you listen
  • When you turn to the score, match your counting immediately the music starts.
  • Once look at the score, partly look, partly listen, for confirmation of what you hope you will be hearing
• For very fast tempos, try following bar lines only to begin with, tracking them with your finger if necessary
• Read the score and be aware of...
  • dynamic changes
  • varites of texture
  • various tessituras
  • ... and try to match these to the music on the page
• Use a highlighter (or pencil marks) to note places you should be looking in the score - landmarks
• Watch out for part crossing (overlapping), especially in chamber music
• Follow the most interesting part, but once you are familiar with the music, try following other parts, possibly one with plenty of rests. Count carefully!
• When your score reading is fluent, try to look ahead: usually one (average-length) bar is sufficient. This helps you to anticipate surprises and keeps your place

... and remember: rarely do you read every note! So don't panic!!