Sight Reading Jump Start - Group 1
Day 1
Welcome!
Using the movable-do solfège system and KodĂĄly principles, weâll build a strong foundation in sight-reading and explore a practical, repeatable method for developing these skills.
Todayâs Goal: Gain a solid understanding of the fundamentals of sight-reading by beginning with two core skills: reading rhythms in 4/4 time and singing pitches in stepwise motion.
Todayâs Assignment:
Watch Dr. Joel Clifftâs Sight Reading Course on the tonebase platform.
Download the "Sight Reading Jump Start Plan" PDF for detailed instructions and exercises!
Watch: Day One Welcome Video!
Day 2
Expanding Rhythmic Concepts - Working in the subdivision. Today, we take our scale and sing it over an eighth-note pattern.
Follow the course outline PDF for detailed instructions and exercises!
Watch: Day Two Video
Day 3
Going backwards
For some reason, musicians who are just getting started sight reading often have a tough time reading below âdo.â Today, you are going to focus in that skill! As always, be sure to count your score first and practice it with the kodĂĄly rhythm syllables. NOTE: these exercises do not have an appropriate key signature. The starting pitches are all âdo.â Bonus: Write in the appropriate clef and key signature for each exercises and conduct yourself while you sing them. Hint! Watch out for the 3/4!
Follow the course outline PDF for detailed instructions and exercises!
Watch: Day 3 Video
Day 4
Sight Reading Warm Up and Scale Review!
Today we are learning our warmup exercise for sight reading. Youâll sing this every time you come to a new sight reading practice exercise.
Follow the course outline PDF for detailed instructions and exercises!
Watch: Day 4 Video
Day 5
Sight Reading Warm Up and Sing Your First Song!
Practice your scale exercise
Sing your warm up exercise
âFollow Meâ (PDF in the Forum)- count the rhythm first using the KodĂĄly substitute rhythm syllables. Answer the following questions:
What Key is this in?
What is the meter?
Are there any special markings that I need to look up?
What else is the score telling me?
Follow the course outline PDF for detailed instructions and exercises!
Watch: "Follow Me Tutorial"
Day 6
Sight Reading Warm Up and Sing Your First Song!
Practice your scale exercise
Sing your warm up exercise
âFollow Meâ (PDF in the Forum) - Speak the syllables using the solfège syllables (instead of âtaâ). *remember to maintain the internal pulse, counting the beats in your head as you speak the solfège. Bonus: Conduct while you speak the syllables in rhythm. Mark in solfege hints if you need to (not too many!)
Follow the course outline PDF for detailed instructions and exercises!
Watch: "Follow Me Tutorial"
Day 7
Sight Reading Warm Up and Sing Your First Song!
Practice your scale exercise
Sing your warm up exercise
âFollow Meâ (PDF in the Forum) - Sing the melody on the solfège syllables. Maintain your inner pulse and counting while you sing.
BONUS: Record yourself singing and post it in the forum!
Super BONUS: Record yourself singing and playing!!
Follow the course outline PDF for detailed instructions and exercises!
Watch: "Follow Me Tutorial"
Day 8
Singing Skips with Arpeggios and working on 3/4 time
Today, we are working on singing the I chord (do-mi-sol) and integrating skips into our singing.
Follow the course outline PDF for detailed instructions and exercises!
Watch: Day 8 Video
Day 9
Singing Skips with Arpeggios
Today, we are practicing the do-sol (I-V) interval.
Follow the course outline PDF for detailed instructions and exercises!
Watch: Day 9 Video
Day 10
Singing Skips with Arpeggios
Today, we are practicing the do-mi (I-iii) interval.
Bonus: record the duet with yourself and post it to the forum!
REMEMBER TO WARM UP USING YOUR WARM UP EXERCISE FROM DAY 4
Follow the course outline PDF for detailed instructions and exercises!
Watch: Day 10 Video
Day 11
Reverse engineering
Today, you are going to use your own repertoire to sight read using the system youâve learned so far. Choose an 8-bar phrase in one of the pieces you already know to reverse engineer. The phrase should be in a MAJOR key that does not modulate. It should have a clear and discernible melody with mostly stepwise motion.
1. count the rhythm first using the KodĂĄly substitute rhythm syllables. Answer the following questions:
What Key is this in?
What is the meter?
Are there any special markings that I need to look up?
What else is the score telling me?
Follow the course outline PDF for detailed instructions and exercises!
Watch: Final Video
Day 12
Reverse engineering
Using your 8-bar phrase, Sing the melody on Solfege.
Record yourself singing it and post it to the forum.
Follow the course outline PDF for detailed instructions and exercises!
Day 13
Reverse engineering
Record Yourself Singing your 8-bar phrase
Post your 8-bar phrase in the forum.
Follow the course outline PDF for detailed instructions and exercises!
Day 14
Assessment
listen back to your recordings from this TWI. Answer the following questions:
Which area of sight reading do I struggle most with (rhythm, pulse, pitch, solfège..)?
What did I learn that was new?
What skill that I already had was reinforced?
Post your observations in the forum!
Follow the course outline PDF for detailed instructions and exercises!
51 replies
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Just a note of congratulations to each and everyone of you for your hard work and dedication to this challenge! If you have a moment, please let me know how it went for you! Feel free to share some ideas about other intensives you would like to see here in the forums!