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You are here: Home / Others / CJ Replay: Sight-Singing Suggestions

CJ Replay: Sight-Singing Suggestions

August 7, 2012 by Scott Dorsey Leave a Comment


(From the Choral Journal article Sight-Singing in the Choral Rehearsal by Nancy Telfer)
 
       1) Sight-singing sessions should be short and concentrated. Exercises should progress sequentially, with each short example designed to teach and reinforce a separate skill and to build on previously learned skills.
       2) Since sight-singing vocal music involves reading words at the same time as notes, all materials for sight-singing should include lyrics. If singers become accustomed to reading words along with pitches in very easy examples, the skill is easily transferred to the actual repertoire being rehearsed.
       3) If singers are going to read music of their own time period, they must have an opportunity to work with materials employing contemporary characteristics (e.g., changing time signatures) beginning with very easy examples.
       4) Practice silent singing to teach the inner ear to audiate.
       5) Use the full score to spot changes of texture, cues, and other helpful information located in other vocal parts or the accompaniment.
       6) Mentally organize the music into phrases or other musical units so that sight-singing will never be just a mechanical act.
       7) Move the eyes very quickly down to the next line or over the page so that the beat remains intact and the pitches remain stable. The eyes should not be looking at the note being sung; they must be looking ahead.
       8) During sight-singing sessions, change the seating arrangement of singers within the choir. This prevents complacency and checks independence.
 
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