Sight-Reading Vocal Music

1. Sight-Reading Vocal Music Dr. J.E.Neighbours

2. Sight Reading Tips • 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?  • Or do you have trouble figuring out the jumps?  • Maybe the rhythms are the hard part?  • Everyone is different.  But one thing is for sure....

3. 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:

4. When it comes to rhythm - Which is the most accurate statement? When it comes to pitches - Which is the most accurate statement? • 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. • 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. A few rhythm pointers: • 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.

8. 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. • 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.

9. 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 calledSolfege.You may have sung a scale using Solfege.  Do you recognize this? 

11. 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:

13. 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.

14. So here is "THE PLAN" if you are new • 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.