Estimated reading time 3 minutes
Table of Contents
Introduction
Do you find sight reading hard to do? Have you ever asked if there is a better way to learn sight singing? Shape notes can really help. Read more to answer the question, “Is there a better way to learn sight singing?”
This article uses technical terms. For definitions, see the Glossary at the end of the post.
Contrasting Standard Notation with Shape Notes to Find a Better Way to Learn Sight Singing
Mobile users: for best results reading the examples, tilt your screen 90o to the right.
Solfege Soundtrack
Before we can find out if there is a better way to learn sight singing, we need to compare notation systems.
First, we’ll look at standard notation. Standard notation works like a graph. (See the first example above.) One axis shows the pitch, while the other records the timing. You change notes by going up and down from line to space on the staff. This tells you what key, fret, or valve to play – at least for instruments.
For voice, you need to use solfege. Solfege uses a song, such as Do, Re, Mi, to help you remember the sound of each note on the staff. (See the second example above and the video below.)
However, it gets more complex when you try to change keys. Look at the first example below. On the left side of the staff, you’ll see a series of hashtags. We call these hashtags sharps. They tell us to sing the approximate pitch value of the black keys on the piano.
With movable Do solfege, you’ll need to know what key you’ll sing in before you start performing the piece. This means that you’d need to look at the key signature and analyze the piece so that you know which note will be Do.
On the other hand, with shape notes each notes shape represents its own solfege syllable. You don’t need to analyze the song to sing the second example below. This makes it easier to sight sing. For a detailed discussion of how shape notes work:
Yankee Doodle in Key of A:
Video: Do, Re, Mi
There Is a Better Way to Learn Sight Singing: Looking at the Shape Note’s Effectiveness
There is a better way to learn sight singing, and it has been statistically proven to be the most effective sight singing method.
George H. Kyme studied shape notes as compared to three other sight singing methods and instrumental sight reading too. He found shape notes to be superior to all of them.
Of course, the ability to sight sing doesn’t guarantee you’ll sing in tune. You’ll need to develop that skill separately.
Kyme states, “…discrepancies in intonation were minimized. If a subject reproduced a pitch within a half semi-tone of the required pitch, that is so that the melody was recognizable, the response was judged as correct” (4).
This means Kyme’s test subjects could get within the ballpark of the note. However, he did not (by design) focus on how well the test subjects fine-tuned their pitches.
So, the ability to fine tune pitches remains a distinct skill from sight reading the notes. For posts that use sing-along soundtracks to help you learn how to fine tune your notes:
Concluding Thoughts to “Is There a Better Way to Learn Sight Singing?”
Is there a better way to learn sight singing? Yes, shape notes have been scientifically proven to be a most effective sight singing method. It makes reading music accessible for all vocalists, but especially for ASD, LD, ADD, and other special needs vocalists. Have fun singing!
© 2023 Geoffrey Keith
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Glossary
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