Estimated reading time 2 minutes
Table of Contents
Do You Want to Get Better at Sight Singing?
“Question, how do I get better at sight singing?” Many vocalists find reading music challenging. However, shape notes, rhythm syllables, and sing-along soundtracks will help. Just as reading words is valuable in everyday life so sight singing is a valuable skill for vocalists. It allows you to perform music you’ve never heard before, while learning it more quickly and accurately. Read more to learn how to improve your sight singing.
This article uses musical terms. For definitions, see the Glossary at the end of the post.
Getting Better at Sight Singing: A Three-Part Process
“How do I get better at sight singing?” You have a three-part process to mastering sight singing. You need to be able to:
- Recognize the notes
- Sing them in time
- Sing them in tune
J.S. Bach said, “All one has to do is hit the right keys at the right time and the instrument plays itself.” Bach’s statement catches the essence of performing music. Much of music reading revolves around singing the right notes at the right time.
Rhythm is the secret to sight reading, but for someone to sing the right rhythm, they must find the right notes.
- Shape notes can help you identify the notes. First used in church hymns in the late 18th century, shape notes have specially shaped noteheads that represent the solfege syllables. They visually represent each note, making it easy for vocalists to sing the music. For more information on shape note sight singing (using sing-along soundtracks so you can learn how to produce accurate melodies) see:
- Kolday rhythm syllables will help you accurately perform the rhythm. Developed by Zoltán Kodály, the method uses special syllables to work on the music’s timing. Each duration gets its own syllable, making performing music a fun and easy process. To learn how to sing rhythm syllables see:
- Performing the notes correctly means singing them in tune. Therefore, you need specialized ear training so you can hear what in-tune harmonies should sound like. I have many ear training exercises using sing-along soundtracks that you can use to learn how to harmonize in tune. You can find them here:
You need all three aspects of sight singing if you want to read effectively.
Concluding Thoughts to “Question, How Do I Get Better at Sight Singing?"
“How do I get better at sight singing?” By using shape notes, Kolday rhythm syllables, and The Intonation Flight Simulator to help you master the skills you need to improve your reading ability. And don’t forget! Practice, practice, practice!
© 2023 Geoffrey Keith
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Glossary
How to Graduate from the Color Coded Sheet Music: Part 2
Has your child or student shown readiness to move on from color coded music notes? The "How to Graduate from Color Coded Music Notes" series will explain how it works. Read more to learn how to transition from the color coding to the clef mnemonics, empowering students to graduate from the color coded sheet music. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
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How to Graduate from the Color Coded Music Notation: Part 4
Do your students mix up the ledger line notes? Click to learn the process of how to graduate from the color coded music notation. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
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Vibrato Impacts Singing in Tune
Have you ever wondered what you could do to better sing in tune? Knowledge is power. Read more to find out how vibrato impacts singing in tune. (Also, the post uses a video of Bohemian Rhapsody to illustrate the main point.) Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
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What Are the Small “>” Signs Above or Below the Notes?
Have you ever asked, “What are the small “>” signs above or below the notes?” We call them and other signs like them articulations of force. Read on to learn what they tell us to do when we see them in sheet music. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
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