Call on a few children to be leaders and sing a pattern for the group to echo back. Use songs and patterns to develop listening skills (try choosing tonal patterns from a new anthem). Related post: The Ultimate Guide to Children's Choir Warm-Ups Use Call and Response

Use a simple sol-mi pattern or expand it to sol-mi-do or a descending 5-note scale ( sol-fa-mi-re-do). This is a great way to introduce solfege to your elementary-age choir. Here are a few ways to incorporate solfege into your children's choir rehearsal: Start with Warm-Ups Musical material is first introduced using sol and mi, then adding la and expanding out to the notes of the pentatonic scale. ( source) The Kodály Method incorporates rhythm syllables and rhythmic movement (based on the work of Émile Jacques-Dalcroze), Glover’s movable do solfege, and John Curwen's hand signs (Kodály added the upward/downward movement where do falls at the waist and la at eye level). Kodály advocated for 'sound before sight' and introducing new concepts through listening, singing, and movement. Solfege is often associated with the Kodály Method, based on the work of Zoltán Kodály in Hungary during the mid-20th century. Related post: The Church Choir's Guide to Vowels: Part I Kodály Method It also promotes good vowels when singing, as each solfege syllable is a pure vowel sound. Overall, solfege is a useful and beneficial tool for developing sight-singing and music-reading skills and teaching ear-training and understanding music and tonal relationships. Musicians may find it easier to sight-read using fixed do, as no prior analysis is needed, but this system lacks context and a more comprehensive understanding. ( source) Used in many Romance, Slavic, Spanish, and French-speaking countries, fixed do is the equivalent of singing note names. It should be noted that when using the movable do system, more complex music may require prior analysis, especially for key areas are ambiguous. Movable do (created by Sarah Ann Glover) situates melodies in a tonal context, focuses on the relationship between notes, and helps develop a more comprehensive understanding of music. Movable do, also called tonic sol-fa was developed in England during the 19th century ( source).įun Fact: solfege syllables are based on an old Latin hymn where the syllables do, re, mi, etc. In the movable do system, syllables assigned to scale degrees (e.g. In the fixed do system, syllables are assigned to pitches (e.g. It dates back to the 11th century and the work of music theorist Guido d’Arezzo. There are two primary solfege systems: fixed do and movable do. Solfege ( do, re, mi, etc.) is a method for introducing and teaching aural skills and understanding of pitch and a system used for sight singing. So, why the funny syllables? What exactly is solfege and how do you use it?įirst, a little history. This film classic is still beloved today - it's a favorite among my elementary piano students! If you're like me, you first learned solfege from Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music.

Chromatic solfege hand signs