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
How to Deal with Annoying Hiccups in Music Lessons
Have your music lessons been disrupted by hiccupping students? Do you want to know how to quickly get the hiccups stopped so that you can get your lessons back on track? Hiccups can be really annoying in music lessons because you’re on the clock and the student is getting distracted by “hic, hic, hic.” Keep reading “How to Deal with Annoying Hiccups in Music Lessons” to learn the three most common hiccups treatments so you can get back to teaching music. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
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How to Improve Your Choir Intonation
Are you having issues with singing in tune? Do you want help improving your choir intonation? One of the main features of choir music is the beautiful harmonies. However, they only stay beautiful when you sing in tune. Click to learn how to improve your choir intonation. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
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Singing Rhythm Syllables in 3-4 Time
Have you gotten the hang of reading rhythm in 4-4 time and want to get a handle on 3-4 time too? 3-4 has a much different feel than 4-4 and expands the types of music you can perform. Read more to learn about singing rhythm syllables in 3-4 time. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
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Singing Shape Note Harmonic Minor Melodies
Have you learned how to sight sing natural minor melodies, but want to be able to sing harmonic minor too? I can help. Read more to learn about singing shape note harmonic minor melodies. Estimated reading time 5 minutes.
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