sight singing practice in F major

The song for today's lesson is a very familiar hymn, so pause the video after you get your starting pitch and try to figure it out on your own.

more practice with singing note names in C major

Today's lesson gives you practice singing the note names in C major in the bass clef.  The song uses drmfs (CDEFG)  in the melody.  The chords are the I (CEG) and V (GBD).  For more information about chords go to Lesson 68.

singing note names for I and V7 chords in G major

Today's lesson gives you practice singing the notes in G major with two harmony parts for the first phrase of "Down in the Valley" and the notes in the I (G) and V7 (D) chords.

singing note names in F major and G major

Today's lesson gives you more practice sight singing absolute note names.  You'll see a familiar song written in two keys in treble and bass clefs.  It is good to know the notes in both clefs even if you primarily will read one clef.  Notes for sopranos and altos are written in the treble clef.  Notes for tenors can be written in the bass clef or in treble clef with their notes sounding an octave below what is written.  Of course, it makes logical sense that the basses read their notes from the bass clef; but, if a song is written with melody only as in many songbooks and rounds, it is often written in the treble clef and the tenors and basses have to sing it down an octave.  Such is the treble biased reality of choral music.  It may have something to do with the fact that elementary music teachers (I am one of them) mostly teach the treble clef as this is where the range of a child's voice lies. If you learn how to sight sing notes as they relate to the tonal center (solfege singing), you will be able to take any piece of music and sing or play it in the key you wish.  Pretty cool.

singing note names in G major and C major

Up to this point in the lessons we have been singing only the solfege syllables in order to get the relationships of the notes strongly in your mind and ear.  As I have said before, this solfege singing using a movable "do" enables you to sing in any key as long as you know where the tonic is.

Although it is not necessary to know all of the note names to sight sing, it is desirable to know them so that you can talk about music.  You might also want to use your knowledge of music reading to learn to play an instrument. Today's lesson gives you practice singing the actual note names for "Little Drops of Water" in C major and G major.   The tone set for the song is drmfs and the rhythms are very simple with quarter, paired eighths and half notes.

solo sight singing in F major

Today's lesson gives you sight singing practice in F major.  Pause the video at the beginning and see if you can do it on your own.  The time signature is cut time, but you can count it is 4 if that makes it easier.  Watch for several syncopated rhythms.  The tone set is s tdrmfs with the tonic as "do".  Have fun.

listening for chord changes to sing harmonies

Today's lesson gives you more practice singing harmonies by ear with "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" in the key of G.  The chords used are I, IV and V.

hearing chord changes

A good way to prepare for singing harmonies is to listen for the chord changes in a song.  If you can hear when the chords change then you are ready to try singing some simple harmonies by singing chord tones.  Today's lesson gives you practice doing this with "Down in the Valley" in the key of G.  The only chords in this song are I and V7.