Advice to Singers Part 8

Do Do Do Do Re Re Re Re &c.]

[Music: Ex. 4.

Do Do Do Re Re Re &c.]

[Music: Ex. 5.

Do Do Re Re Mi Mi &c.]

[Music: Ex. 6.

Do Do Do Do Do Do Re Re Re Re Re Re &c.]

[Music: Ex. 7.

Do Do Do Re Re Re Mi Mi Mi &c.]

[Music: Ex. 8.

Do Do Do Do Do Re Re Re Re Re &c.]

[Music: Ex. 9.

Do Do Do Do Re Re Re Re &c.]

[Music: Ex. 10.

Do Do Do Do Do Do Re Re Re Re Re Re &c.]

[Music: Ex. 11.

Do Do Do Do Re Re Re Re Mi &c.]

These exercises may be timed as slow as you like on your metronome--the slower the better--but 76 is a good pace to begin with; when you have thoroughly mastered them at 76, take them a little quicker until you can sing them accurately up to a good brisk time.

No 1 has but one note in the bar, and this must be held on steadily for four beats of the metronome--care being taken to leave each note in sufficient time to take a fresh breath, and attack the second note and syllable in precise time with the metronome beat. I need, perhaps, scarcely point out that much good will be obtained if the student can accustom himself to _feeling_ in his mind the rhythm and beating, so as not to acquire the habit of trusting to mechanical appliances, which are dispensed with at public performances. The sol-fa-ing must be strictly adhered to, and in Exercises 2, 3, etc., it will be seen that the syllable must be sounded twice and four times respectively. With Exercise 5 the dotted note comes in; but I will not stay to explain that, as I a.s.sume that my readers will have acquainted themselves with the elements of musical theory before taking up singing. Especial care should be given to Exercise 7, as that is the first step in the difficult matter of syncopation, carried out elaborately in Exercises 8 and 9. With Exercise 11 the question of Rests comes in, but the same remark that I made as to the dotted notes applies here. Everything that it is necessary to know about them should be found in any elementary musical grammar.

Having mastered the above exercises, the reader may take the following with two beats in the bar--taking the precaution to set them at a slow time on the metronome, say 76, not singing them quickly until he is thoroughly acquainted with them.

[Music: Ex. 1. Two beats to a bar.

Do Do Re Re Mi Mi Fa Fa Sol Sol La La Si Si Do Do Do Si Si La La Sol Sol Fa Fa Mi Mi Re Re Do]

[Music: Ex. 2.

Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Si Do Do Do Si Si &c.]

[Music: Ex. 3.]

[Music: Ex. 4.

Do Do Do &c.]

[Music: Ex. 5.

Do Do Do &c.]

[Music: Ex. 6.

Do Do Do &c.]

[Music: Ex. 7.

Do Re Mi Fa Sol &c.]

[Music: Ex. 8.]

After which he may take the following with three beats in the bar:--

[Music: Ex. 1.

Three beats in a bar.

1 2 3 Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Si Do Do Do &c.]

[Music: Ex. 2.

Do Do Do &c.]

[Music: Ex. 3.]

[Music: Ex. 4.]

[Music: Ex. 5.]

[Music: Ex. 6.]

[Music: Ex. 7.]

[Music: Ex. 8.]

[Music: Ex. 9.]

ON THE CHOICE OF MUSIC.