sight singing practice in major using s drmfsl

Today’s lesson on YouTube gives you practice sight singing the beginning few measures of some familiar songs.  The songs are all in major keys and the tonic (“do”) is marked with red to give you a reference point.  The melodies contain stepwise motion and skips that outline the tonic triad.  Try pausing the video on each new song to give yourself time to figure it out before I sing it.  Have fun.

sight singing "Shalom Chaverim"

Watch today's lesson for sight singing "Shalom Chaverim" in D minor (Dm).

notating the tonic triad

Today's lesson guides you through writing the notes for "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" which has the tonic triad in the melody.  You will also practice rhythms that include quarter, eighth and half notes. 

tonic triad - Red River Valley

Today's lesson has more practice singing tonic triads in the context of a song.  If you know the tune to "Red River Valley", try singing it before watching the video to see if you can find the tonic triad (do, mi so) in the melody.  The song actually starts on the "so" below "do" just like the beginning of "Auld Lang Syne".

Shalom Chaverim - natural minor

Watch today's lesson on YouTube.

tonic triad - "Auld Lang Syne"

A tonic triad is a chord built on the tonic.  The notes in the tonic triad in a major key are do, mi and so.  In today's lesson you will sight sing "Auld Lang Syne" which has the tonic triad outlined in the melody.  It is notated in the key of F major.  In this key the note names for the tonic triad are are F, A and C.

hearing the tonic (tonal center)

A melody is more than just a succession of notes.  Each song has a distinct tonal center also called the tonic.   Just as the beat is felt even when it is not audible, the feel of this tonal center is present even when it is not being sounded by voice or instrument.  Today's lesson is practice with keeping this tonal center ("do" in major mode) present in your mind as you sing a melody.