11 Sight Singing Assignment

Intervals Warm-Up: Perfect and Imperfect Consonances from the Tonic Triad

Sing and conduct.

Navigating the Tonic Triad

Conduct yourself in duple, triple, or quadruple time as appropriate, and sing using solfege.

Step 1: Check the clef.

Step 2: Check the key signature and ascertain which solfege degree you need to start on. Play the tonic triad of the key on the piano, and sing up and down the tonic triad a few times (do-mi-sol-mi-do). Locate your starting pitch, remembering that not all songs start on do!

Step 3: Check the time signature. In simple meters, the numerator indicates whether you’ll be conducting in two, three, or four.

The “Find Do” Game

The instructor plays a pitch on the piano. The instructor then tells the student that this pitch is mi or sol. Basing the answer on the given pitch, the student navigates their way to do. (Tip: use an intermediary step before producing the final answer.)

The “Find Sol” and “Find Mi” Game

The instructor plays a pitch on the piano. This pitch may be do, mi, or sol. Basing the
answer on the given pitch, the student navigates to mi or sol as directed by the instructor.

Well-Known Melodies Based on the Tonic Triad

Many folk songs, pop songs, and classical compositions from many regions are based on the tones of the tonic triad. Note that not all melodies start on do! It is very common for a composition to begin on mi or sol.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Maytime

Mozart, Eine kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525

Johannes Brahms, Wiegenlied (Lullaby), Op. 49

“Skip to My Lou” (American folk song)

George Frideric Handel, “Chorus” from Judas Maccabaeus, HWV 63

Round: “Oliver Cromwell”

Sing this round with a partner. The second singer should begin when the first singer reaches measure 2. Both singers should conduct and use solfege.

“Oliver Cromwell” (traditional English round)

Duets: “Bei Männern” and “Au clair de la lune” (adapted)

The instructor plays the treble line on the piano while the student conducts and sings the bass line in solfege. Tips: locate all the occurrences of do, mi, and sol before starting; when singing the bass line, try to stick to it without becoming distracted by the treble line. Practice with a partner is essential.

Mozart, “Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen” from Die Zauberflöte, K. 620

“Au clair de la lune” (eighteenth-century French folk song)