Building Choral Excellence Teaching Sight-Singing in the Choral Rehearsal

by Demorest, Steven M.

• ISBN13: 9780195124620
• ISBN10: 0195124626
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-02-15
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Designed for both the practicing choral director and the choral methods student, this is a compact and comprehensive overview of the many teaching methods, strategies, materials, and assessments available for choral sight-singing instruction. Sight-singing is an important, if sometimes neglected, facet of choral music education that often inspires fear and uncertainty in student and teacher alike. Written in an accessible style, this book takes the mystery out of teaching music reading. Topics covered include the history of sight-singing pedagogy and research, prominent methods and materials, and practical strategies for teaching and assessment. This is the only book to provide such a wealth of information under one cover and will become an essential part of every choral conductor's library.

Author Biography

Dr. Steven M. Demorest is Associate Professor of Choral Music Education at the University of Washington and music director of the Northwest Chamber Chorus, a select 45-voice mixed ensemble. He is the author of numerous articles on choral music pedagogy and research for the Choral Journal, Music Educators Journal, and the Journal of Research in Music Education.

Table of Contents

Part I: Why Teach Sight-Singing?
A History of Sight-Singing Instruction in the United States	5	(15)
The Singing School	6	(3)
Sight-Singing in American Public Education	9	(3)
The A Cappella Movement: Sight-Singing in the High School Choir	12	(3)
Sight-Singing Instruction Today	15	(3)
Conclusion	18	(1)
Recommended Readings	19	(1)
What Research Offers Teachers	20	(17)
Methods and Materials for Teaching Sight-Singing	21	(2)
Factors in Sight-Singing Success	23	(3)
Time Spent Teaching Sight-Singing	26	(1)
A Survey of Current Practice	27	(5)
Conclusion	32	(1)
Recommended Readings	33	(4)
Part II: How to Teach Sight-Singing
Systems and Methods of Instruction	37	(23)
Systems for Representing Pitch	38	(10)
Systems for Representing Rhythm	48	(4)
Methods for Teaching Sight-Singing	52	(4)
Conclusion	56	(3)
Recommended Readings	59	(1)
Sight-Singing Lesson Models	60	(33)
The Prenotational Lesson	61	(4)
Music Fundamentals	65	(7)
Single Line Sight-Singing	72	(9)
Multipart Sight-Singing	81	(4)
Sight-Singing Games	85	(5)
Sequencing Sight-Singing Instruction	90	(2)
Conclusion	92	(1)
Recommended Readings	92	(1)
Integrating Sight-Singing into the Choral Rehearsal	93	(12)
The Choir Program	94	(1)
Choice of Literature	94	(3)
The Choir Rehearsal	97	(6)
Conclusion	103	(1)
Recommended Readings	104	(1)
Sight-Singing Assessment Procedures	105	(22)
Group Sight-Singing Assessment	106	(3)
Diagnostic Assessment	109	(3)
Individual Assessment	112	(3)
Scoring Systems	115	(3)
Feedback	118	(3)
Grading	121	(1)
Summary	122	(1)
Recommended Readings	123	(4)
Part III: What Materials Are Available?
Materials	127	(6)
Sight-Singing Materials Survey Results	127	(2)
Important Features of Sight-Singing Materials	129	(1)
Reviewing Choral Sight-Singing Materials	130	(3)
Review of Materials	133	(30)
Summary Chart of Published Materials	159	(2)
Conclusion	161	(2)
Appendix: Web Survey Contributor List	163	(2)
Notes	165	(4)
References	169	(6)
Index	175