Estimated reading time 2 minutes
Table of Contents
Finding the Answer for the Question, "Can I Learn Sight-Singing if I Haven’t Learned an Instrument?
Do you want to learn how to sight-sing? Have you ever wondered, “Can I learn sight-singing if I haven’t learned an instrument?” You’ve come to the right place! Read more to find out whether it’s possible to learn sight-singing without having learned an instrument first.
This article uses technical musical terms. For definitions, see the Glossary at the end of the post.
Can I Learn Sight-Singing if I Haven’t Learned an Instrument: The Components of Sight Singing
Learning an instrument before you learn to sight-sing can be valuable. However, you don’t have to play an instrument to learn how to sight-sing. The two main components to sight-singing consist of:
- Reading the score
- Singing in tune
Shape notes and Kolday rhythm syllables will help you to sight read. For info on singing with shape notes and rhythm syllables read:
Singing in tune also has two components:
- Melodic tuning
- Harmonizing in tune
The following two posts have sing-along song tracks that help you to learn how to sing in tune. The first link helps you with singing melodies in tune. The second link helps you to harmonize in tune.
Concluding Thoughts to “Can I Learn Sight-Singing if I Haven’t Learned an Instrument?”
At the beginning of this post, we asked the question, “Can I learn sight-singing if I haven’t learned an instrument?” The quick answer is “yes.”
However, when working on sight singing, knowing some piano helps, because you can bang out the notes on the piano as you sing the melody. Thus, piano works fine as a melodic sound model, helping you sing your melodies in tune. This means that knowing how to play some piano will be useful. Though really any instrument will do in a pinch.
While the piano makes a good melodic sound model, it doesn’t make a good harmonic sound model. For more on melodic vs harmonic tuning read:
To learn how to harmonize in tune, you either need to sing in an a cappella group or sing with The Intonation Flight Simulator posts on this website:
However, many vocalists learn how to sight sing in ensembles likes choirs and choruses. If you have this sort of sight-singing and ear training support on hand, you’ll find it’s possible to learn sight-singing without having learned an instrument first.
© 2023 Geoffrey Keith
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Glossary
Explore Mozart’s Enchanting Music in Less Than Four Minutes
Do you want to know Mozart and his music but not take a ton of time? Mozart, along with Bach and Beethoven, is in an elite category of classical composers. If your average person on the street knowns any name in classical music, it’s probably one of those three. Keep reading to explore Mozart’s enchanting music in less than four minutes. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
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A Harmony’s Length Impacts Singing in Tune
Does singing in tune seem like a mystery with no clues? Knowledge is power. Read more to find out how a harmony’s length impacts singing in tune. Estimated reading time 7 minutes.
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The Narrator’s Point of View in Your Songwriting
Do you ask yourself, “What in the world is point of view anyway?” Does your audience sometimes get confused about who is singing in your songs? You may have problems with your point of view. Read more to learn about the narrator’s point of view in your songwriting. Estimated reading time 7 minutes.
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What Does the Exotic Sounding Word Bravo Mean at a Concert?
Do you wonder what the word bravo means? You can sometimes hear it shouted at classical music concerts. Keep reading “What Does the Exotic Sounding Word Bravo Mean at a Concert?” to learn classical concert etiquette. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
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