Basic Aural & Sight Singing Skills I
Curriculum guideline
Lecture: 3 hours/week
Classes will include the presentation of concepts, demonstration of learning strategies and modelling of skills by the instructor, integrated with drills and practice exercises performed by the whole class, small groups and individuals.
- Pitch Fundamentals
- Basics of vocal production and singing
- Pitch Matching
- Singing ascending and descending intervals
- Singing ascending and descending major and minor scales
- Singing ascending and descending notes in triads
- Singbacks of short melodic fragments, 3-5 notes
- Singing of tonal melodies containing intervals of seconds, thirds, the P4, the P5 and the P8
- Audiating (creating and hearing in one's mind) tonic while singing melody
- Intonation (singing in tune) in ensemble
- Identification of ascending melodic intervals up to the P8
- Identification of scale types: major, minor (natural, harmonic and melodic forms)
- Identification of scale degrees in major and minor scales
- Identification of triads in root position (major, minor, augmented and diminished)
- Identification of tonic and starting notes in songs
- Simple melodic dictation
- Meter and Rhythm Fundamentals
- Recognizing elements of temporal organization in music
- Pulse
- Meter
- Beat division
- Crusic versus Anacrusic phrasing
- Duration (time values of notes & rests)
- Singing and tapping of rhythmic patterns
- Rhythmic reading in simple and compound meters
- Dictation of basic rhythms in simple and compound meters using protonotation and standard notation techniques
- Maintaining a steady pulse while demonstrating rhythm
- Rhythmic Reading demonstrations in ensemble
- Recognizing elements of temporal organization in music
- Musicianship Skills
- Use of a relative pitch labelling system (e.g., movable-doh solfège and/or scale degree numbers)
- introduction to pitch mapping: building a tonal network by aligning solfège syllables with note names in a few different major and minor keys
- Use of Curwen hand signs
- Use of a rhythm labelling system (e.g. Takadimi syllables)
- Use of conducting patterns for duple, triple and quadruple meters
- Dictation and transcription exercises using protonotation and standard musical notation
At the end of the course, the successful student will demonstrate satisfactory skill and musicianship in aural recognition and performance of tonal melodies, harmonies and rhythms, as outlined in Course Content.
Students will be expected to:
- Sing prepared and unprepared (or "sight") drills, exercises and compositions;
- Interpret and respond to visual cues (e.g., Curwen hand signs, conducting patterns, notated rhythms and melodies);
- Use Curwen hand signs while singing;
- Demonstrate conducting patterns while articulating rhythmic exercises;
- Hear musical material and retain it in working memory;
- Provide written answers to demonstrate aural recognition;
- Manage performance anxiety in order to execute required listening, singing and rhythmic tasks in both group and one-on-one settings within established time limits.
Assessment will be based on course objectives and will be carried out in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy.
The following is a sample grades breakdown:
| Short quizzes* (minimum one per week) | 20% |
| Homework | 5% |
| Singing and rhythm demonstrations* (minimum of four) | 10% |
| Dictation tests (minimum of two) | 20% |
| Individual sight singing mid-term test | 7.5% |
| In-class ear training mid-term test | 7.5% |
| Individual sight singing final test | 12.5% |
| In-class ear training final test | 12.5% |
| Class participation | 5% |
| TOTAL |
100% |
*Frequent, short evaluations are designed to give feedback on newly learned material and skills, and will include demonstrations of tasks as outlined in the course content.
N.B. This course includes final testing worth more than 10% during the last fourteen days of classes. A standing variance to the Evaluation Policy was granted by Education Council on September 14, 2020.
Instructors may assign text materials and/or digital resources.
Text example:
Current edition of Krueger, Carol. Progressive Sight Singing. New York: Oxford University Press.
Digital resource example:
student subscription to Artusi Music (www.artusimusic.com)