“Do or “1”

We all come from a background in music to some degree, especially if we are one of those people who grew up singing and is now either trying to make a career of it or just sing for fun.

With that background comes a method we learned, probably in elementary school. Depending on where you came from, you learned one of three methods of interval training:

1. Fixed “Do”
2. Movable “Do”
3 The Number “1”

I learned solfege and it seemed to work well for me. I’m writing this because this topic comes up pretty often when teaching my local class here. Some insist that their way is best and what I’ve found is whatever you learned early on is the easiest for you.
However, when I’m working with a student who has never learned anything regarding intervals, learning by numbers gets the fastest results in my experience. Also, as a working singer across the board, most directors/producers ask for a certain place in the scale, like the 5th for instance instead of asking for “So.”

Using numbers centers on scale placement, all depending on which scale the song is written from. Try singing a scale using the numbers 1-8. Then as a practice, incorporate different scale structures like harmonic minor, or melodic minor, keeping the numbers the same but changing the scale. It’s a process of thinking in a specific mode while you are singing to a place in that mode or scale.

Again, no one method is preferred by everyone. Choose which one works best for you and get the basics down. This will make sight-reading a much easier process for you.

Different Method

A recent student in class pointed out a different way of approaching key signatures. She was a little hesitant to say anything due to the fact that I was teaching it completely opposite from the way she learned. We discussed her method and learned some really neat new ways to think about it. I’m totally open to whatever works. And I find that the more tools you have in your box, the better. Some of us learned Solfege, some numbers but in the end, if you can sightread the music, then whatever works is awesome.

Be open to different routes to the same destination. Open your ears and try something new. You will then fill your box with amazing tools to assist this sometimes difficult process!

Ask Questions

I was standing next to a friend of mine the other day who is probably one of the best sight readers in town. I noticed how he hums a few notes before each entrance during a rehearsal. I figured since he was excellent at what he does, I would ask him a few questions.

During our break, I asked him why he hums before each take. He went on to explain how getting his cords ready, in position so to speak, makes the entrance much cleaner and allows him to focus more on performance when executing the piece. This way he is not searching for notes when trying to sing the next phrase.

I understand that this may seem like it would bring a lot of chaos if everyone did it but the humming is so minimal that mainly only he hears it.

This is only one occasion where I’ve tried to figure out what makes reading easy for others. Now, I always ask questions. Sometimes one little piece of advice will bring a huge revelation to your understanding and bump your sight reading up a notch.

New Goals

Here we are again at the start of a new year….2018! Many of us make new years resolutions and try to reset for what’s in store. If learning to sightread is your goal, then as with anything else, it takes much discipline.

This past year I went on a journey of health. After years of trying to skate around reality, I finally decided that to be healthy, both in mind and body, I had to incorporate serious discipline and sacrifice into my daily schedule. No quick diets, or fancy home gym gadgets were going to do the trick. It was time to buckle down and get to work. It’s hasn’t been easy at all. In fact, I realized that I let many years pass by without sticking to a regimen and to have to reverse all of that is brutal……but definitely doable.

It takes time, going when you don’t want to go, working when you don’t want to work, eating right when you would love to have that pizza. But in the end, it has been life changing.

I heard a quote early in my life that said, “anything worth having in life, takes sacrifice.” Sacrifice is giving up one thing for the sake of a better cause. Good ole fashioned discipline is crucial.

So if you want to sightread, take the time. Make the sacrifice to gain this incredible skill. A little bit everyday goes a long way.

Happy New Year!!!

An “Ah Ha” Moment

Do you need an Ah Ha moment? It’s the most exciting thing to see as a teacher? When I see that “the light went on” and the student bursts out in the middle of someone else’s conversation or in the middle of class and says, “I got it” then it makes my day.

These are happening more often than not. Why, because people are starting to understand that sightreading is very simple. It just takes consistency and practice.

The great thing about being in a class is the interaction that takes place. Bouncing ideas back and forth and realizing there are many ways to the destination just accelerates the progress.
Be open to new ideas and find a class where you can join in and learn how to sightread.

Take A Snapshot

My college professor used to make me take small snapshots of measures and then cover them up so that as I was playing the measure covered up, I was reading ahead to the next measure at the same time. This is great practice.

For example, you look at measure one and memorize quickly. Then cover it up with a piece of paper. While playing/singing measure one, you are making a mental note of measure two. Then cover up measure two and sing that measure while taking mental note of measure three. And so on………….

A sight readers, we are always looking ahead to see what the next bit of music is. This keeps us on our toes and prepared for what is coming next.

Just Do It!

I remember several years ago where I was involved in a year long program, teaching me to be a “Champion.” It was quite an experience  and I’ll never forget entering thinking I was going to figure out the “secret” to success. There were many books to read, audio tapes to listen to, conferences to attend and repeating positive affirmations to increase the results of my actions.

This year was the most productive year I ever experienced but not because of the books, the positive affirmations and all of what I thought was going to be my secret. What was it? It turned out to be the fact that this program forced me to be accountable, to show up and to get the job done whatever that was supposed to be.

I opened a new studio, gained an assistant and tripled my clientele. Why did this all happen?
Again, it was the fact that each week I had to be there. I had to do my homework and be accountable.

I had to “Just Do It.”
I equate it to working out. If you can just make it out the door, you’ve won the battle. Doesn’t really matter which program you use, just pick one and go with it.

I write all of this because the more successful this program becomes, I’m faced with many who ask why I do it the way I do. Why do you use numbers instead of solfege they ask. I answer them by saying, I chose a way and just started doing it. Why do the local classes work so well? Because we show up. We just do it. Any method we use would work. But the difference is we choose one and run with it.

When you are practicing your sight-reading, know that there is no best way. The right way is if you are consistently moving forward, whatever method you choose.

Pick some class to be a part of and “Just Do It.”

Ask Yourself The Hard Questions

As we come into the new year, we always stop and evaluate where we are and where we are going. Even if we don’t plan to, our minds seem to go there. Did we get what we wanted this past year? Will I ever learn to Sightread or do anything else I put my mind to for that matter?

As you start off this new year, ask yourself a few questions and think about what it really takes. I wrote an article to my private students about being excellent at your craft. Being so good at what you do that they just can’t ignore you. And to accomplish this level of excellence, it takes good ole fashioned hard work.

• How bad do you really want to learn to sightread?
• How much time everyday do you spend practicing this craft?
• Do you put yourself in situations requiring you to sightread?
• Are you taking classes?
• Are you forcing yourself to learn the new piece one measure at a time or are you getting someone to play it for you?
• Are you falling for all of the gimmicks? Or do you realize that this comes by daily practice and hard work?

I always compare these situations to eating and health. Why? Because we all have to eat and we all have to maintain health. And we all know that none of it is accomplished overnight or with an app. It’s accomplished by very small daily steps which keep us on track and moving one little step forward at the time.

I encourage each and every one of you to keep going. Remember the small steps. I repeat this over and over and believe it wholeheartedly. You will get there IF you take the small steps consistently.

I wish you all a very successful 2015!!

Look For The Trouble Spots

After you have established the key and time signatures, the next step is to scan through the piece and see where the tricky places are. Often times, it’s one huge leap that throws us off or even an unusual accidental like a double sharp. If we know in advance, then we will be prepared and not get thrown off track at that place. Most singers I work with carry a pencil with them at all times and write in the music where these places are.

Another great symbol to use is a pair of glasses. It means to watch the director so you are not all of a sudden singing solo. The incredible thing about group singing which is where most sightsinging occurs is that there will be a synchronicity that happens. One person is strong when the other one is weak. If you’ve prepared your quick synopsis of the piece, then you can be that strong voice during the roadblocks and not get caught off guard.

Melodia– Written In 1909

Have you ever tried using the book Melodia It is tried and true, written by Cole and Lewis back in 1909.
This book has been around for years and I have say one of the best practice tools available. It covers every key, every time signature, every rhythm and every combination of intervals imaginable. If you get the complete collection, you will start from the very basics and travel through the really complex towards the end. If you can read Melodia you can read anything!!

Sometimes going back to the very basics is a step which can bring us back to reality. I have my classes read through it because regardless of what style of music you study, this foundation will cover it all.

You can now download this for free at https://openlibrary.org/books/OL24178198M/Melodia.
There are also versions for your iphone and ipad.

Say It Outloud

Every time you look at a piece of music, ask yourself the basic questions out loud. Then answer yourself out loud. There is nothing better than seeing, hearing, speaking and thinking something all at the same time. It becomes part of your memory much faster that way. This will also get you in the habit of a consistent review. So next time your choir has rehearsal for instance, before each new song, quietly to yourself, review the basics: key signature, time signature, starting note number, dynamics, etc………

It’s All In Your Mind

We all play this vicious game in our heads. And who do we play it with?
Ourselves………..

We often start to beat ourselves up before we ever start to sightread.
As soon as it’s our turn to audition and the director gives us the music, we
go through every reason in the book of why we can’t do it. Our palms start to sweat and
singing, which is normally so easy, seems to be the most difficult task ever.

Before you start sight-reading that song, begin to tell yourself that this is something you can do. You’ve rehearsed, practiced and taken much time to go through the routine. Now start to let that little voice in your head know that
“You’ve Got This.”

Review the concepts so much that it becomes truly a habit of going through the steps every time you pick up the music.

Remember, You’ve Got This!

Is Perfect Pitch Necessary?

There is always a student in one of my classes who has perfect pitch. They seem to be envied by many…….but is it really necessary?

Let’s first address who has it and how you get it. It is a gift! You are born with it. Can anyone learn perfect pitch? That is to be debated and yes, there are programs out there which teach it. But it has been my experience that the ones who have it naturally are the ones who can utilize it and it is an added benefit to them.

I don’t teach perfect pitch, because if you actually walked down that road, it’s a longgggg walk. What you need is the ability to hold a given pitch in your head which we call “Do” or the tonic or key center. Then you learn to determine how far notes are from that given pitch both audibly and on paper. So if you are wondering if you are missing out, please don’t. It’s a very small percentage of people who have it. But, the rest of us have done quite well without it. 

What Is Your Feeling When You See A Piece Of Music?

1. Panic
2. Look for the lyrics
3. Zone out and listen to my fellow singer
4. Study it to see if I can recognize what I am seeing.

I hope you said #4. Since you are in the process of learning music and learning to sightread, start taking the time to recognize several key elements:

1. Locate the key signature
2. Locate the time signature
3. Find 1 or the key note on the staff.
4. See if you can find your first pitch without help.

It’s all about taking the baby steps, but to do that, you have to stop running from music when you see it.

Sightsinger Tip–Lines & Spaces

Those pesky intervals keep getting in the way right? Just as soon as I get in a groove of reading the melody ascending or descending through a nice scale pattern, the melody has to jump. And the further it jumps the harder it is to reach it. Then add on top of that jumping down instead of up and it gets even a little harder.

There is a little trick to guessing the intervals quickly. If you notice, when both notes are on either lines or spaces, the interval will be an odd numbered interval like a 3rd, 5th or 7th. If one note is on a line and the other is on a space, then the interval will be even numbered like 2nd, 4th or 6th.  This gives a quick clue and narrows down the options.

For example, you see two notes, one on a line and one on a space, and they are really far apart. Since they are far apart, it’s probably a 7th.

Try browsing through a piece of music and quickly identifying if the intervals you are reading are the same(both on a line or space), or different(one on a line and one on a space.)

Having many tools in your tool box counts towards being one step closer to becoming a faster sight reader.

Do You Sight Read For Fun?!!!

There is nothing like looking at a piece of music and understanding what is going on. It’s like a code that opens up a whole world of musical adventure within a few pages. We can go through the exercises regularly, learn our key signatures and practice theory all day but until we open the music and just start reading, we’ll never experience the thrill of the adventure.

Here in Los Angeles, there are several groups of singers who get together at someone’s house or church and everybody brings music with copies for all to share. They just dive right in, making mistakes in a safe environment and gaining the experience of seeing what it is really like not to rehearse but to try and read at first sight.

This is lots of fun, especially when the chords start to tune up and you realize you are producing music quickly that you’ve never seen before. Give it a try. Invite a few friends over and make it a fun experience.

A Letter From A Student I Would Like To Share

I received an email from a former sightsinging student. It really makes what I do worthwhile to hear this. I would like to share it with you.

“Hi Gerald!  I’ve been meaning to write you for the past few weeks- to thank you for the sight reading training I’ve received from you thus far.  It turned out to be extremely beneficial during my High Holy Day choir job at Sinai Temple this past September.  Our eight person choir was given seven FAT binders of music, and had basically three weeks to learn- and perform- all of it.  Needless to say, the ability to sight read was paramount.  And I noticed that, when I tried to fall back on my old habits (e.g. expecting to just “hear” my part/learn it by ear), I usually didn’t stand a chance.  There was simply too much material in-hand to make that work.  But when I applied simple techniques- e.g. determining the key, the interval, and/or what relation to the tonic my next note had, I was saved!  I’m now amidst learning 108 complicated Christmas Carol arrangements, and once again- applying sight reading technique is key.  I’m definitely far from perfect- and would most certainly still buckle if someone gave me a score to read cold- on the spot :-).  But I’m certainly getting better.  So thank you!”

Sightsinger Tip–Become A More Respected Singer To Your Band Or Music Group!!!

Have you ever heard a musician say, “Oh here is another dumb singer”?
The reason is because often times singers have no knowledge of music and strut their “Divaness” as if they are the Queen or King of all singers. Bands members for example are turned off by this because the singer has made no effort to understand the music other than what they are specifically singing. I can’t tell you how much respect you will gain by be able to identify certain simple aspects such as what key your song is in and what key would you put this in if you needed it a little lower or higher. Also, can you count off your song in the correct time signature? Knowing these simple things will provide you with a great experience of working with other musicians when it’s time for a band rehearsal or audition. Take the time to learn, even if it’s just to have a basic understanding of how music works.

A Little Goes A Long Way

I’m so excited about all of you who are logging in and moving forward. However, I know how frustrating it can sometimes be. Here is a word of encouragement. Take a listen.