Transcript Sight-Reading Vocal Music

SIGHT-READING VOCAL MUSIC
Dr. J.E.Neighbours
SIGHT READING TIPS
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As singers, we all have different strengths and
weaknesses. When you approach sight singing, the best
advice is "know thine own self". What are you good at
when it comes to sight singing?
 Do
rhythms come easy to you?
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do you have trouble figuring out the jumps?
 Maybe
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the rhythms are the hard part?
Everyone is different. But one thing is for sure....
EVERYONE NEEDS A PLAN.
So, what are you going to do when the sight
singing is in front of you?
 Panicking probably won't help much. So before
you prepare your plan, figure out which of these
statement apply to you:
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When it comes to rhythm
- Which is the most
accurate statement?
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I feel pretty confident about the
rhythms. I can usually figure
them out without even counting
them.
I can usually get the rhythm if
I have time to count it out.
I feel ok when the rhythms are
pretty easy, but toss a dot in
there (.) or two many eighth
notes, and I'm lost.
I have no clue when it comes to
rhythm. I pretty much sing all
the notes at the same speed.
When it comes to pitches
- Which is the most
accurate statement?
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This is easy for me. I can even
get the jumps most of the time.
I can usually figure it as long
as there are no jumps.
I understand that basically
when the note goes up, I have
to sing higher and when the
note goes down I need to sing
lower. Beyond that it's a
mystery to me.
Beats me, I'm just
guessing. When I'm in the
audition the notes seem to be
moving on the page right in
front of my eyes.
If you answered 1 or 2 to the statements, you
probably have a basic understanding of sight
singing. You are probably doing pretty well and
should just proceed right to the practice
examples. If you answered 3 or 4, you are just
beginning to learn to read.
 Here is a very simple and basic plan that will
help get you through the audition. This is geared
for people who don't read music at all.
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FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO FEEL ABSOLUTELY
LOST.....
In all honesty, learning to sight sing takes time
and practice on a regular basis.
 If it’s all new to you, and this is you first major
audition and you are just starting out learning
how to read, in all likelihood you will not become
an amazing sight singer overnight
 But that's ok, don't count yourself out yet. Just
because you don't read well, that doesn't mean
you don't have other musical skills, (like a good
ear) that can help you with the process. What
you need is a little bit of info and a plan.
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A FEW RHYTHM POINTERS:
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The more things they add to a note,
the quicker you sing it.
A whole note ( basically a circle)
lasts longer than a half note (a
circle with a stem added) ….
which lasts longer than a quarter
note (a circle with a stem with color
added) …
which lasts longer than an eighth
note ( a circle with a stem with color
added and a flag added)
See how we kept adding
things? The more we add the
quicker they go. There is one big
exception to that basic concept... a
dot next to a note makes it last a
little longer.

Now, this does NOT
mean if the example is
full of eighth notes, it
should be sung
quickly. What it means
is that eighth notes are
simply faster than
whole notes. What I'm
talking about here is
how the notes relate to
each other.
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You can sing the sight
singing example any
tempo (speed) you want.
This is a very simplistic
view of rhythm, but if
you don't read at all, at
least be aware of those
things.
POINTERS ABOUT PITCHES:
Let's start with a simple observation. When the
notes go up, you should sing a higher note, when
the notes go down, you should sing a lower
note. If you at least do that, that's a step in the
right direction.
 Beyond that you need to have a plan for moving
from a note to a higher or lower note. Remember
"The Sound of Music" ? Remember the song "Do
a dear, a female dear, ray, a drop of golden
sun..."? Well basically in that song they were
using a system called Solfege. You may have
sung a scale using Solfege. Do you recognize
this? 
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Some people use numbers instead of
solfege. Same basic idea.
 That's a scale. In the all state audition the sight
singing will ALWAYS begin and end on Do, or 1
of a scale. That's a guarantee. So if you can start
and end on the same note that's something.
 What makes sight singing tricky is that the notes
will not occur in the same order as the scale, they
are mixed up. For example:
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NOW THIS IS WHERE TOO MUCH
INFORMATION CAN HURT YOU.
If it's early in your choral music career and you
are just learning to read, I do not recommend
using Solfege or numbers. When you are nervous
in the audition, you don't need too much to think
about. That will just confuse you.
 People who try to use a method (like solfege or
numbers) that they are not really proficient in
using, tend to do worse on the audition because
nerves do them in. If you really can't read, then
you will probably do better if you sing on a
neutral syllable like "doo" or "lah" and follow a
simple plan.
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SO HERE IS "THE PLAN" IF YOU ARE
NEW
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When you are given the example, you will be given a minute to look at it. Take the minute and
look at it. Many people skip this step and just jump in with no plan. Take some time and look it
over. There are probably some things you can figure out. While you are looking keep breathing....
Look and see that it starts and ends on the same note. See.... I told you.
Which notes are longer? which notes are shorter? Keep breathing....
Ok. Now the CD will give you some chords and a starting note. Hum the note. Are you still
breathing?
Now you have a chance to practice. So go ahead and practice. I recommend humming on the
practice. When you practice shoot for three things:
Try to start and end on the same note.
When the note goes up, sing higher, when the note goes down sing lower.
Try to hold the white notes longer than the black notes.
Now you are ready to do it. Take a breath.
Sing it on "doo"or "lah".
Once you start, keep going no matter what, and try to keep a steady beat.
Don't go too fast. It's not a race. Pick a nice slow even tempo that you are comfortable with.
And here is something many of my students found helpful....put your finger on the notes as you are
singing them. This will help make sure you sing the notes that are there - no more - no
less. Also, having something to physically touch seems to help people focus on what they are
doing. Really, many kids tell me that helps.
When it's over, smile, no matter how it went. After all, it's over. :) It will make you look
confident.