Episode #8 will give you the opportunity to practice melodic dictation in major and minor keys, as well as a sight singing example.
Episode #8 will give you the opportunity to practice melodic dictation in major and minor keys, as well as a sight singing example.
There will be two examples of dictations: one (1:40) & two (4:03) each focus on a different mode. Finish off with a guided sight singing example (5:50).
Question of the day:
For more sight singing, where can you view music from the international music score library project? (8:50)
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Hi and welcome to the APsolute Recap: Music Theory Edition. Today’s episode will recap Melodic Dictation & Sight Reading
Lets Zoom out:
We’re in Unit #1 & 2 - Music Fundamentals
Topics 1.1-1.7, 2.1 & 2.2
Our Big ideas are pitch & rhythm.
Ready to practice your magical musician skills? In this episode we will do a major key dictation, a minor key dictation and a sight reading example. Dictation includes the skills of audiating, decoding and transcribing. Sight reading happens every time you try out a new song through singing or playing an instrument. With each of these challenges, remember to use every trick in the bag: solfege, hand signs, note names, rhythm syllables, counting, time signatures and the circle of fifths.
Lets Zoom in:
Today’s practice dictation will only be melodic. Therefore, if you are writing the example down, you can just focus on putting noteheads down for the pitches- and disregard any rhythmic ideas. I want you to listen for the patterns you hear, and the mode- if it is major or minor. Write notation, maybe also with your thoughts of solfege. There will be two examples, each played four times just as they will be for the exam.
I’m leaving my sheep at home today- Example one will be done on the piano for you to decode, starting with G4 notated in the treble clef.
G4 F4 E4 D4 C4 E4 G4 E4 D4 B3 G3 C4
Here is the second listening:
G4 F4 E4 D4 C4 E4 G4 E4 D4 B3 G3 C4
Here is the third listening:
G4 F4 E4 D4 C4 E4 G4 E4 D4 B3 G3 C4
Here is the fourth and final listening:
G4 F4 E4 D4 C4 E4 G4 E4 D4 B3 G3 C4
Example one was in C major, and used notes G4 F4 E4 D4 C4 E4 G4 E4 D4 B3 G3 C4 or Sol fa mi re do mi sol mi re ti, sol, do
Example two will be on the flute for you to decode, starting with C5 notated in the treble clef.
C5 B4 A4 C5 E5 F5 E5 A5 E5 C5 B4 A4
Here is the second listening:
C5 B4 A4 C5 E5 F5 E5 A5 E5 C5 B4 A4
Here is the third listening:
C5 B4 A4 C5 E5 F5 E5 A5 E5 C5 B4 A4
Here is the fourth and final listening:
C5 B4 A4 C5 E5 F5 E5 A5 E5 C5 B4 A4
Example two was in A minor, and used notes C5 B4 A4 C5 E5 F5 E5 A5 E5 C5 B4 A4 or do ti, la, do mi fa mi la’ mi do ti, la
Remember, the sight reading skill will show up on the exam as a Sight
Singing FRQ. Make sure to look for the time signature, key
signature, melodic and rhythmic patterns. Mentally practice
counting the rhythm and singing the solfege separately.
I am going to show you how I might sight sing “Don Gato” as if I have never heard or seen it before. This folk song is easily found online, and this particular version is found on Bethsnotes.com.
First, I am going to notice the treble clef, B flat in the key signature, the 2/4 time signature with an anacrusis. The treble clef will tell me how to read the letter names, the B flat tells me most likely I am in D minor or F major. Since the song starts and ends on D, I will assume D is la and we are in a minor key. A common rhythm that happens in this song is a dotted quarter note and eighth note measure. I may decide in my head to think “1 and 2, and” just so I can feel how long the dotted quarter note has to be. If there were any other rhythmic patterns that might look tricky I would go over them now.
Next I am going to look at the solfege. I notice there no notes sung below the starting note of La, and the highest note for me to sing would be Sol. There is one measure with an accidental, so I will isolate that pattern to sing the pitches. The G F# G is uncommon for a D natural minor scale. If singing solfege pitches Re Di Re is unfamiliar to you, then for a moment pretend that pattern is in G major and sing it Do ti do, then replace it with the solfege syllables Re Di Re.
Here is how I would sing it with solfege.
La do mi fa sol fa mi re mi (rest) la do mi fa sol fa mi re mi (rest) mi fa mi fa mi fa fa mi re di re re mi re mi re mi mi re do ti do ti do mi ti re do ti la
Here is how I would sing it with the lyrics.
Oh Señor Don Gato was a cat,
On a high, red roof Don Gato sat.
He went there to read a letter, meow, meow, meow,
Where the reading light was better, meow, meow, meow,
‘Twas a love note for Don Gato.
To recap……
Dictation includes the skills of auditing, decoding and transcribing. Sight reading happens every time you try out a new song through singing or playing an instrument. For these exercises remember to use a combination of your knowledge of solfege, hand signs, note names, rhythm syllables, counting, time signatures and the circle of fifths.
Coming up next on the Apsolute RecAP Music Theory Edition: Interval Size and Quality
Today’s Question of the day is about sight singing
Question: For more sight singing, where can you view music from the international music score library project?