49 Sight Singing Assignment

Warm-Up: Major and Minor Scale Triads in Solfege

Using your solfege and conducting, sing the triads of the major and harmonic minor scales.

Take particular care over the diminished triads (mm. 13, 17, 28), the augmented triad (m. 20), and the interval of an augmented second (mm. 27-28).

Melody and Rhythm: More Difficult Leaps, More Complex Subdivisions of the Beat

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, March K. 217

Frédéric François Chopin, Prelude Op. 28 No. 24

Ludwig van Beethoven, Piano Sonata Op. 16, I.

Melody and Rhythm: Dotted Rhythm vs. “Scottish Snap”

It is easy to confuse dotted rhythms with Scottish snaps when sightreading. Look carefully at the rhythm before you attempt to sing. If you wish, precede your singing practice with a rhythm-only reading, chanting with the syllable “Tah.”

“Within a Mile of Edinburgh Town” (Scottish folk song)

“Comin’ Thro’ the Rye” (Scottish folk song)

Duet

Practice with a partner, switching parts so that you both learn them both. Conduct and use solfege. Take care to differentiate “long-short” rhythmic patterns and “short-long” ones.

William Byrd, “The Carman’s Whistle” from The Fitzwilliam Virginal Book