Embedded Files
Melodic Skips:
Melodies in simple and compound time that incorporate skips/leaps to 1, 3, and 5. Major and minor modes.
Warmups
Warmups
1) Scale Ladders: Major Solfège Ladder & Minor Solfège Ladder
Suggested Exercises. Open the solfège ladder to use as a visual guide for the following exercises:
Point & Sing: Practice stepping and skipping between 1, 3, and 5 as a classmate or instructor points to each step on the ladder.
Improvised Melodies: Make up a 3–5 note melody that uses stepwise motion and skips/leaps between 1, 3, and 5. Have your partner pick up on the melody by starting with the last note of your segment (e.g. Do-Mi-Fa-Sol, Sol-La-Sol-Do, Do-Ti-Do, etc.)
Call & Response: Have a classmate or instructor improve a 3–5 note melody using the criteria above on a neutral vocal syllable ("Da") or played at the piano. Sing the melody back using solfège.
Major Mode
Major Mode
Simple Time. Rhythm: Beats, No Divisions
Simple Time. Rhythm: Beats, No Divisions
1) Traditional Folksong (France), “Au Clair de la Lune” [Image File | MuseScore | PDF]
2) Béla Bartók, Mikrokosmos Vol. I, No. 1 (1939) [Image File | MuseScore | Youtube 0:00–0:20]
3) Béla Bartók, Mikrokosmos Vol. I, No. 13 (1939) [Image File | MuseScore | PDF | Youtube 6:29-6:59]
4) Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning,” mm. 1–8, from the musical Oklahoma! (1943) [Image File] [MuseScore]
Simple Time. Rhythm: 8th Notes
Simple Time. Rhythm: 8th Notes
1) Unknown (traditional African song), “Hey Tswana” [Image File] [MuseScore] [PDF]
2) 17th Century English Folksong (likely written by Matthew White), “My dame hath a lame, tame crane” [Image File] [MuseScore] [PDF]
Directions: Sing this as a round with 3 other classmates or with the class broken into 4 (voice 1, 2, 3, and 4). Alternatively, you may record yourself singing each part in sequence. When Voice 1 reaches "2" in the score, Voice 2 enters from the top. When Voice 1 reaches 3 in the score, Voice 3 enters from the top. Voice 4 enters when Voice 1 reaches "4."
3) Camille Nickerson, “Gué, Gué, Solingaie” (Creole Folk Lullaby) [Image File | MuseScore | PDF]
4) Johanna Kinkel, 6 Lieder Op. 6, No. 4 “An Luna,” mm. 29–32 (1839) [Image File | MuseScore]
5) The Ramones, “Blitzkrieg Bop,” verse (1976) [Image File] [MuseScore] [PDF]
6) Muhammed Abd el-Wahhab, “Aziza,” mm. 1–8, from Aziza (1954), written by Muhammed Ab el-Wahhab [Image File | MuseScore | Youtube: 0:00–0:30]
9) Traditional Song: Hopei Province, China, “Poor Sze Bbei,” mm. 14–20 [Image File | MuseScore | PDF ]
Directions: Sing as a duet with a partner or as a sing and play.
13) Taylor Swift and Post Malone, “Fortnight,” chorus, from The Tortured Poets Dream (2024) [Image File | PDF | MuseScore]
Simple Time. Rhythm: 16ths.
Simple Time. Rhythm: 16ths.
1) Howard Shore, The Shire Theme (from “Rivendell”), from the film Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Rings (2001) [Image File | MuseScore]
2) Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, String Quartet Op. 1, No. 1, mvt. 2 Rondeau, mm. 112–119, violin 1 melody (1771) [Image File] [MuseScore]
3) Elizabeth Pym Cumberland, 10 Canzonets, No. 1, mm. 1–4 [Image File] [MuseScore] [PDF] (Transposed from the original key of D)
4) Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, String Quartet Op. 1, No. 1, mvt. 2 Rondeau, mm. 104–111, violin 1 melody (1771) [Image File] [MuseScore]
5) Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, Sonata for Flute and Harp in E-flat Major, mvt. 2, mm. 1–4, melody (1775–90 ca.) [Image File | MuseScore | PDF]
6) Louise Farrenc, Trio for Piano, Flute, and Cello, Op. 45, mvt. 2, mm. 1–8, flute part (transposed from C major) (1857) [Image File | MuseScore | PDF]
Hint: The tonic is G.
7) Traditional folksong (Macedonia), “Buvcansko,” mm. 1-8 (transcription from folkdancefootnotes.org) [Image File | PDF | MuseScore ]
8) Pauline Thys, “Petit nègre,” mm. 1–8 (1856) [Image File | MuseScore]
10) Traditional Folksong (American), “The Greenland Fishery,” mm. 7–10 [Image File | PDF | MuseScore]
Simple Time. Triplets
Simple Time. Triplets
1) Joseph Bologne, String Quartet Op. 1, No. 6, movt. 1, mm. 36–43 (1771), Violin 1 [Image File] [MuseScore] [PDF] [Youtube 1:05-1:20]
Compound Time. Beats & Divisions
Compound Time. Beats & Divisions
1) Elizabeth Pym Cumberland, 10 Canzonets, No. 2, mm. 1–4 [Image File] [MuseScore] [PDF]
2) Cy Coleman,"It's Not Where You Start," from the musical Seesaw, mm. 1–14 [Image File] [MuseScore]
3) Traditional Folksong (Native American), “Hunting Song,” mm. 2–5. Copied from The American Folk Song Collection (Kodály Center), kodalycollection.org. For more information about the song, see the website here. [Image File | PDF | MuseScore ]
Compound Time: Subdivisions
Compound Time: Subdivisions
1) Johanna Kinkel, 6 Gedichte, Op. 8, No. 3, “Gondellied,” mm. 1–4 (1838) [Image File] [MuseScore] [PDF]
Minor Mode
Minor Mode
Simple Time. Rhythm: Beats, No Divisions
Simple Time. Rhythm: Beats, No Divisions
1) Montague Ring, "Prayer Before Battle," mm. 1-5, from Four Moorish Pictures, an Eastern Suite (1927) [Image File | MuseScore | PDF]
2) Nobuo Uematsu, “Chaos Temple,” mm. 1–4, from the video game Final Fantasy (1987) [Image File | MuseScore]
Simple Time. Rhythm: Beats: 8th Notes
Simple Time. Rhythm: Beats: 8th Notes
1) Maria Theresia von Paradis, “Sophia an Siegwart,” No. 2, from 12 Lieder, 1786 (mm. 25–31) [Image File | MuseScore]. (Transposed; original key: Gm. Original meter: 3/8.)
2) Joseph Bologne, String Quartet Op. 1, No. 6, mm. 81–84, Violin 1 [Image File] [MuseScore]
3) Unknown, “Wanagi Wacipi Olowan. Song of the Spirit-Dance (Ghost-Dance Song),” No. 1. Native American Dakota Song. Transcribed by Natalie Curtis [Image File] [MuseScore]
Note for singing: Don't be fooled by the key signatures. This is a minor pentatonic scale. Treat E as "Do."
6) Teresa Carreño, String Quartet, movt. 1, mm. 1–4, violin 1 (1896) [Image File | MuseScore | PDF]
7) Nobuo Uematsu, “My Home, Sweet Home,” from the video game Final Fantasy V, C section (1992) [Image File | MuseScore | PDF]
8) Traditional (composer unknown), Songs of Yemeni Arabs, No. 1 from Thesaurus of Oriental Hebrew Melodies, Book 1, Section III [Image File | MuseScore | PDF ]
9) Traditional Folksong: Sioux (Native American), “Lullaby” [Image File | PDF | MuseScore ]
Simple Time. Rhythm: Subdivisions
Simple Time. Rhythm: Subdivisions
1) Alan Silvestri, Theme song from the film The Avengers (2012) [Image File | MuseScore]
2) Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, Harpsichord Sonata No. 3, mvt. 2, mm. 38–41, melody (1775–90 ca.) [Image File | MuseScore | PDF]
Hint: The tonic is D.
3) Ari Pulkkinen, “Angry Birds Theme,” from the video game Angry Birds (2012), mm. 1–11 [Image File | MuseScore | PDF] [Youtube: 0:00–0:03]
4) Nobuo Uematsu, “Terra,” mm. 1–4, from the video game Final Fantasy VI (1994) [Image File | MuseScore | PDF]
Compound Time. Beats & Divisions
Compound Time. Beats & Divisions
1) Louise Farrenc, Trio for Piano, Flute, and Cello, Op. 45, mvt. 1, mm. 9–16, flute part (Transposed. Original key: E minor) (1857) [Image File | MuseScore | PDF]
5) Traditional Folksong (Native American), “Community Ring Dance,” mm. 1–4. Informant/Performer: Leon Manuel (1959). Copied from The American Folk Song Collection (Kodály Center), kodalycollection.org. For more information about the song and a recording see the website here. [Image File | PDF | MuseScore ]
Compound Time. Harder Rhythms
Compound Time. Harder Rhythms
Other Time Signatures
Other Time Signatures
Time signatures that have beat notes other than quarter notes, including 2/2, 3/8, 4/16, etc.
1) Maria Theresia von Paradis, “Sophia an Siegwart,” No. 2, from 12 Lieder, 1786 (mm. 25–31) [Image File | MuseScore]
2) “Tokala Wacipi Olowaƞ” (Dance-Song of the Fox Society), Native American Dakota Song, as sung by Wicapi (Star), Pine Ridge. Transcribed by Natalie Curtis. [Image Link] [MuseScore]
3) The Drifters, “Save the Last Dance for Me,” verse (mm. 5–13), from Save the Last Dance for Me (1960) [Image File] [MuseScore] [PDF]
4) Amy Beach, "Fairy Lullaby," No. 3, from 3 Shakespeare Songs, 1897 (mm. 5–12) [Image File | MuseScore]
6) Florence Price, “Cabin Song,” from 3 Sketches for Little Pianists, no. 1, mm. 9–16 (1937) [Image File | MuseScore]
7) Barbara Strozzi, “Che si può fare” (What can you do?) (1664), mm. 5–9, vocal part [MuseScore | Image File]
9) Traditional Folksong (Native American), “Creek Lullaby,” mm. 1–12. Informant/Performer: Margaret (a Creek Girl) (1943). Transcribed by Anne Laskey. Copied from The American Folk Song Collection (Kodály Center), kodalycollection.org. For more information about the song, see the website here. [Image File | PDF | MuseScore ]
Additional Resources
Additional Resources
Sight Singing Textbook (San Fransisco Conservatory), Tonic Chord Outlines
Toby Stewart, Foundational Sight-Singing
Major only, simple time, whole/half/quarter rhythms
Small range, mostly stepwise: pp. 21–25.
Wider range, mostly stepwise: pp. 37–45
Major, 8th note divisions: pp. 46–48
Minor only
Natural Minor (only), whole/half/quarter rhythms: p. 57–61
Melodic Minor, whole/half/quarter rhythms: pp. 62–64
8th Note Divisions: pp. 65–70
Benjamin Crowell, Eyes and Ears: An Anthology of Melodies for Sight Singing
"Major Keys: Leaps within the Tonic," pp. 32–36
"Minor Keys: Leaps Within the Tonic," pp. 55–57
Dave Smey, Sight-Singing Super Bonanza
Part A, Melodies 1–30 (in major), pp. 1–4
Part B, Melodies 31–60 (in minor), pp. 5–9
Choraletech, Interactive Sightsinging Program, "Tonic," Nos. 101–226
Kent D. Cleland and Mary Dobrea-Grindahl, Developing Musicianship through Aural Skills: A Holistic Approach to Sight Singing and Ear Training (available online through the NYU Library)
Improvisation with Tonic How-To with Demos and Examples for Practice, pp. 73–78 (direct link here)
Examples from the Repertoire, pp. 79–83 (direct link here)
Open Music Theory, "Examples for Sight-Counting and Sight Singing: Level 2," M25–48 (See also the 2-Part Melodies)
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