Levels of Sight Singing Skill
FOLLOWERS
Most singers are not independent sight singers, yet they learn their part by following other singers or instruments until they sort of memorize the music.
WISE GUESSERS
Being approximately accurate is good enough for most people. Simply observing that the notes go up or down or stay the same is what they rely on. Then they sort of harmonize with others or any instruments that may be playing, to achieve the required accuracy. With experience, they distinguish between wide jumps and smaller jumps and become more accurate. Some go on to be fine Sight Singers. Frequently wise guessers have had instrumental background so they know the notational system and depending on their experience, can guess quite accurately.
ABSOLUTE PITCH or ALMOST ABSOLUTE PITCH
If a person has learned an instrument quite early in life and worked at it very seriously, a small number may even develop a memory of the sound of their instrument and develop what we call “absolute pitch”. They learn the sound of each letter name such as “F#” or “C” and produce the pitches accurately from memory. Research tells us that only 1 in 10,000 people have “absolute pitch”.
SIGHT SINGERS
To be able to accurately sing at sight requires a system to “bridge” you from the notation on the page to the sound you sing. There are 3 basic systems possible of which “absolute pitch” is one. We will discuss the 3 systems on the next page.
It’s nice not to have to depend on others to reproduce the sound of the notation. So if you would like to move up to a more accurate level you will need a solid approach and understanding of what you know and what you don’t know. That “solid approach” and understanding is what we hope to give you in this topic. The development of sight singing accuracy is a gradual process but a satisfying one as you develop your independence. And it will take serious effort. Contrary to popular belief that “you either have it or you don’t”, I believe everyone can become a strong sight singer if they choose. To be successful only requires a solid approach and persistence.
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