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Estimated reading time 4 minutes
Table of Contents
Introduction
Do you have trouble performing compound meters, such as the 9-8 time signature? This post’s soundtrack will help you get the sound of 9-8 in your ear as you practice along with it. Read more to learn about singing rhythm syllables in 9-8 time.
The song track uses synthetic voices rather than actual voices. Research has shown that this will help with the ability to identify and produce absolute pitch information. For more information, read Why Use a Synth Voice Instead of Real Voices.
This article uses musical terms. For definitions, see the Glossary at the end of the post.
Compound Meter and Singing Rhythm Syllables in 9-8 Time
Mobile users: for best results reading the music, tilt your screen 90o to the right.
- In the last Shape Notes and Solfege post, we talked about how compound meter works. The important point with compound meter: the pulse doesn’t happen on the eighth notes. Rather, you feel the beat on the dotted quarter notes. Thus, you’ll group three eighth notes per beat.
- It’s like you have three 3-8 time signatures smooshed together into one bar. The beat occurs at the start of each group of three notes. (See the example above.)
- In the post Singing Rhythm Syllables in 6-8 Time, we learned the rhythm syllable for the dotted quarter note: tum. This syllable generally gets used for dotted quarter notes in compound meters. In simple meters, the dotted quarter note has a different feel. Thus, why it uses a separate syllable in 2-4, 3-4, and 4-4 meters versus 6-9, 9-8, and 12-8 meters.
- Before you can sing rhythm syllables in 9-8 time, you need to review how the rhythm syllables work. On the following chart you’ll find:
- the symbol
- the rhythmic value
- the associated Kodaly syllable
- If you want to hear how the Kodaly rhythm syllables sound, see the video below.
Rhythm Chart
Rhythmic Syllables Video
Beautiful Dreamer and Singing Rhythm Syllables in 9-8 Time
Beautiful Dreamer:
- The song we’ll use for our example for singing rhythm syllables in 9-8 time, Beautiful Dreamer, was written by Stephen C. Foster. Moreover, the example uses shape notes to help you sight read the notes.
- To review shape notes, read: Shape Note Sight Singing Success
- Foster, who penned many songwriting standards, has the distinction of being the first American songwriter to be able to make his living writing songs.
- The solfege syllables are written below the staff in the score, but you’ll find the Kodaly syllables written above it. First, chant the Kodaly rhythm syllables. Next, sing the solfege.
- Beautiful Dreamer has an accidental in the second bar of the sheet music example above.
- For a review of accidentals read: Sight Singing Chromatic Shape Notes
- In addition, we have tied notes in the last two measures of the example. The curved lines (the ties) connect the notes together so that they make one long note. Chant the rhythm syllable as Tum – um – um. The extra “ums” help you feel the beat for the full length of the tied notes. (See the video above for similar examples of this.)
- Also, Beautiful Dreamer uses first and second endings. (See the Glossary for a definition.)
- Make sure you practice every day with the sing-along soundtrack. The tuning for the track has been specially chosen to help your ear to learn how to sing melodically in tune.
- Furthermore, be sure to breathe as you sing. If you don’t have enough breath, your pitch will drop, making your note go flat.
- I’ve provided a video of Beautiful Dreamer so that you can hear the whole song. Enjoy!
Beautiful Dreamer Video
Singing Rhythm Syllables in 9-8 Time: Quiz
After you’ve learned Beautiful Dreamer, you can try the quiz. Begin by singing the solfege syllables (not shown). Then, sing the 9-8 time rhythm syllables.
Concluding Thoughts on Singing Rhythm Syllables in 9-8 Time
You may have noticed while singing the rhythm syllables in 9-8 time that it is similar to 6-8 time. Both have a rolling feel produced by the three note subdivisions. The big difference between them? 6-8 has two groups of three notes, while 9-8 has three groups of three notes.
Shape notes have been scientifically shown to improve any vocalist’s sight reading skills. In addition, shape notes act as a multisensory teaching aid, helping ADD, ASD, LD, and other special needs vocalists to read the score.
© 2022 Geoffrey Keith
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Glossary
Reading Music (A Quick Guide to How to Read Music)
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Active Versus Passive Voice: How to Write Them
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