[Menvi-discuss] sightsinging Class

[Julie McGinnity]

Hi Brandon.

When I took sight singing classes, our professor used to let us jump
down the octave if it got out of range.  The goal of the class is to
teach intervals so that you can sing the exercises in any key.  For
example, I remember once there was an exercise in our book in G major,
which can be a little high, so our teacher put it in D major to make
it easier on us.  We still sung the exercise, learned the intervals,
and counted the rhythms the same.

I don't know what book you're using, but our book divided the chapters
into different skills you were supposed to gain throughout the
chapter.  For example, there is the chapter of minor keys, the chapter
where you learned intervals of a 6th and 7th, and so on.  If your book
is divided like that, it will probably show you the focus of the
class.

I actually think a person with perfect pitch would hate a class like
this because the true pitches are rarely a concern.  :)

On 10/23/12, Brandon Keith Biggs <brandonkeithbiggs at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello,
> I am surprised that sight singing class is about singing a melody for the
> melody. I'm handed a piece in D major and it goes up to a high G, if I'm
> supposed to be looking at this for the first time, what am I going to do? I
>
> have problems on the E a minor 3rd below that, so there is no way in the
> world I'm going to hit the G. I guess I could go into falsetto, but then I'd
>
> have to break my concentration and whatnot. That is an option, but I'd
> prefer to use my singing range.
> When I look at an aria for the first time, I sight sing it with little
> reserve, as it is either written for basses, or I have been told the range
> before hand. Sight singing exercises are written for everyone in mind, so no
>
> considerations go into keeping the piece within a voice's range. Besides,
> I'd think dropping an octave would only move the piece down, it really isn't
>
> changing anything but where you are singing the intervals with an octave
> jump or if you want to keep the contour of the piece, a minor seventh or
> something thrown in.
> I can't say how much I could use relative pitch in my day. I am in a choir
> and we start singing something. I have no measure numbers and we are singing
>
> a ton of alleluias, how do I find what line we are on? Or in recit when I
> have to sing a long run with no piano, I can think the notes and sing them
> without the piano. I can also tell if I'm going sharp or flat.
> I don't think I will be able to develop my relative pitch to the point where
>
> I can catch pitches without thinking about it, but it would be really nice
> to come close. Atm my intonation is horrible comparatively, so any little
> bit helps.
> Thanks,
>
> Brandon Keith Biggs
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Chris Smart
> Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2012 4:15 PM
> To: This is for discussing music and braille literacy
> Subject: Re: [Menvi-discuss] sightsinging Class
>
> by developing perfect pitch, i hope you actually mean relative pitch.
> There is no way to learn perfect pitch, although people write and
> sell courses claiming to do just that.
>
> About the melodies you are asked to prepare and present, are you
> saying things are actually out of your range, or are you just
> arguing about specific leaps between some notes?
>
> As far as I know, one of the benefits to solfege practice is
> developing your ear, interval recognition, etc. i.e. stronger
> relative pitch.
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-- 
Julie McG
 Lindbergh High School class of 2009, National Federation of the Blind
of Missouri recording secretary,
Missouri Association of Guide dog Users President,
and proud graduate of Guiding Eyes for the Blind

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that
everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal
life."
John 3:16