Sight Singing Made Accessible, Readable, Teachable MINOR

Sight-Singing Made Accessible, Readable, Teachable is founded on the premise that young singers tend to view each key as a separate “language.” The book addresses the needs of predominantly visual learners by organizing the materials key by key. Students are thus immersed in a key, facilitating their ability to identify at sight the steps of the scale as well as commonly found intervals within that scale.

The first volume of the SMART book series provides visual orientation and melodies to sight-read in seven keys. Each section begins with the scale and outlines of the tonic chord for that key, followed by a tonal (fundamental) drill. For each key, there are eight sight-reading melodies plus a challenge melody.

Volume I, divided into Level I and Level II, emphasizes the intervals of seconds and thirds. Level II also expands upon intervals found within the tonic triad to include fourths (so to do), fifths (do to so) and sixths (mi to do and so to mi).

• Exercises are written in unison octaves in treble and bass clef for flexible use with mixed, tenor-bass or treble choirs.
• The initial focus is on identifying do and the tonic chord, do, mi, and so.
• This recognition of the tonic chord, coupled with quick recognition of thirds, is presented as the first step in the process that will lead to successful sight-reading.
• A fundamental drill that emphasizes steps and thirds follows the scale and notes of the tonic chord that introduce each key.
• Scales and fundamental drills utilize all the pitches that are found in the sight-reading exercises.
• Since the process of singing at sight involves spatial identification, the reading exercises offer tools students can use to identify and measure these intervals both visually and aurally.
• Note values included are whole, half, quarter, eighth, dotted half and dotted quarter notes.

Systematic teaching and re-teaching of this material will provide students with tools they can apply to the development of sight-reading skills as well as the rehearsal of repertoire in the full group, in sections, small groups or individually. The SMART book is designed for flexible use according to the structure of your program and the needs and abilities of your students. Volume I can be used:

• As a developmental activity conducted daily in the order presented in the book. The number of days to complete each four-page segment will depend on the capabilities of the group.
• As preparation for rehearsal of a song in a particular key. Work on the four pages in Level I followed by the section in the same key in Level II.

Presentation of the material should be paced to allow sufficient time for students to master the fundamental drills before moving on to the reading exercises. The authors' recommended system for pitch reading is moveable do.

Denise Eaton
in collaboration with
Janwin Overstreet-Goode and Sally Schott