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
Join me for in-person or online lessons today!
Glossary
What Exactly Does I7-vi7-V7, I-iii-IV-I, and IV-V-I-V Mean? (Part 3)
Do the Roman numerals used to analyze music make your eyes cross? Do you want someone to explain how it works? Roman numeral analysis might seem a bit cryptic. However, it can be really useful once you understand it. Read more answer the question, “What exactly does I7-vi7-V7, I-iii-IV-I, and IV-V-I-V mean?” Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
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What’s the Best Lesson You’ve Had with Your Music Teacher?
What’s the best lesson you’ve had with your music teacher? The answer to this can take many forms. However, one of the most powerful and important experiences you can have in a music lesson revolves around a concept called ignition. What is ignition and how does it work? Keep reading to find out. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
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How Do I Switch from Singing Shaped Notes to Standard Notation – Part 1
“How do I switch from singing shaped notes to standard notation?” Because they’re easy to read, shape notes will always be a good choice for struggling readers, and it makes a great introduction to solfege too. However, the limited shape note repertoire means that shape note singers may want to learn to read standard notation as well. Click to learn how to transition from shaped notes to standard notation. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
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Singing Schwa Vowels
Do you have a hard time singing words like “lung,” “ton,” and “done” with a strong tone? Many vocalists find neutral vowels tricky to sing with good resonance. The most common neutral vowel in English is the schwa, which you can find in words like “the,” “a,” and “up.” Good vowel production remains a critical skill for vocalists. Vowels help with singing in tune and good vocal tone and resonance. All of these things revolve around how you perform your vowels. Read more to learn about singing schwa vowels. Estimated reading time 7 minutes.
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