1. AP Music Theory Mr. Silvagni
Sight Singing
AP Music Theory
Mr. Silvagni

2. Sight Singing
Trains your brain to recognize and understand the relationships between notes
Use of solfège syllables helps to recognize those relationships
Solmization – a system of designating notes by solfège
Solfeggio – term for the method of sight singing using these syllables

3. Movable-Do System
When singing any scale, the first scale degree will be “Do”
Compare to Fixed-Do system where the note C is always “Do”
Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Ti Di = major scale degrees 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
No matter what key you’re in, the first scale degree will be Do
No matter what mode you use, first scale degree will be Do

4. Major Scale Warm-ups Major Scale Tonic arpeggio
Diatonic ascending intervals
Diatonic descending intervals
Scale in thirds
Arpeggiated chords
Arpeggiated chords with V7
Scale degree finder exercise
Resolution exercise
Review of top ten melodic patterns in major
*Exercises are found in Barron’s Review Book

5. Singing Minor Scales
We use parallel minor solfège alterations to sing minor in order to keep “Do” as scale degree 1
Compare to La-based minor (uses relative minor) where La becomes 1 (similar to Fixed-Do)
Do Re Me Fa Sol Le Te Do = natural minor scale degrees 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Do Re Me Fa Sol Le Ti Do = harmonic minor scale degrees 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Do Re Me Fa Sol La Ti Do = melodic minor scale degrees 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Ti and La return to Te and Le when descending

6. Minor Scale Warm-ups 3 Minor Scales Tonic arpeggio
Diatonic ascending intervals (harmonic)
Diatonic descending intervals (natural)
Scale in thirds (melodic)
Arpeggiated chords (harmonic)
Arpeggiated chords with V7 (harmonic)
Scale degree finder exercise (harmonic)
Resolution exercise (harmonic)
Review of top ten melodic patterns in major
*Exercises are found in Barron’s Review Book

7. Chromatic Scale
Do Di Re Ri Mi Fa Fi Sol Si La Li Ti Do – ascending chromatic scale
Do Ti Te La Le Sol Se Fa Mi Me Re Ra Do – descending chromatic scale
Most important syllable is Fi because it impies V/V chord, which will appear on one of the sight singing examples
Si and Di may also appear

8. AP Sight Singing Two sight singing examples
One melody will be in treble clef and one will be in bass clef
One melody will be in simple meter and one will be in compound meter
One melody will be in a major key and one melody will be in a minor key
Melody 2 is usually more complex than melody 1
You will have 75 seconds to prepare and practice, and 30 seconds to record your performance

9. Tips Check the clef Check the key signature Check the time signature
Consider the range and determine where to set Do
Always know where Do is and be able to return to it even if you get lost
Sing a warm-up exercise beforehand
Look for familiar melodic patterns
Use a pencil to circle tonics or write out the solfège for a section or chunk you’re unsure of
Sing up the scale to find pitches you’re unsure of or for difficult intervals
Practice the melody out loud, use the entire allotted time

10. More specific tips Sing every day
Make up your own vocal exercises and practice them
Sing something in major and then in minor
Practice all the warm ups from class and the textbooks
Try to combine exercises
Keep changing keys

11. More specific tips Have a strategy
Use the same singing system consistently
Do not stop singing if lost…if you’re lost with the solfège, drop the syllables and use something else
Plan for mistakes
Perform with a steady tempo and a slower tempo
You earn one point for not hesitating (“flow point”)
No extra credit for singing quickly
The faster you sing, the less time you have to think

12. More specific tips Be rhythmically accurate
Give full durational value to the rhythms, particularly the last note…they will take credit away
Know your own range and the range of the example
You can sing in a different key if you so choose
Sing in any octave you wish

13. More specific tips A little about scoring
Graded in half-measure segments
4 measures = 8 points + “flow point” = 9 total
Pitch and rhythm must be correct to earn point
Alternate scoring possible if you earn less than 4 points
Can be up to 4 points with all correct pitch
Can be up to 2 points with all correct rhythm

14. Singing Examples Barron’s AP Music Theory Music for Sight Singing
Melodia
Some internet or teacher created examples