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Learn to Sing in Harmony is a curriculum for learning how to read music by singing and help develop the skill and joy of singing harmony. The solfege method assigns each note in the music scale with a syllable: do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do much as heard in the song "doe a deer...ray a drop of golden sun...me a name I call myself.." This curriculum starts with songs only using do, then do-re, then do-re-mi and so on. Melodies are songs from different countries and African American spirituals. Here are some ways to utilize this method:
Learn to read music notes by singing
1) Start with songs you know like "Mary Had a Little Lamb" or "Twinkle Twinkle" and sing the melody in the solfege which is included in every song.
2) Practice the hand signs that go with each note to help remember the solfege.
3) Sing the language you are most familiar with then try the other languages.
4) Add your creativity! Once you've learned the song start improvising or creating your own version with new rhythms and tones! Remember the rhythms are only simplified for learning.
5) Sing the songs with harmony. The first type of harmony is called a "round." Multiple people sing the same melody but start at different times. The starting places are indicated by numbers in the measure.
Learn to read notes by playing Boomwhackers - Boomwhackers are inexpensive and easy to play. There are eight colored tubes and each one labeled with a different pitch. The music notes in this book are the same colors. Every time you see a red "do" you tap the red Boomwhacker.
Learn to play ukulele and piano chords - Diagrams for the ukulele and piano chords are included on every page. This"beginner" book has only three chords that have so multiple songs have the same chords. Repetition of the same chords helps us learn!
Memorize Bible verses - Verses are much easier to memorize in a song. The Level One songs start with verses about creation and the birth of Jesus through when he was baptized. All verses are kid-friendly and connect to Bible stories.
Reinforce Bible stories - You can sing these songs in any order based on your Bible teaching for the day and the children will build "tonal memory" that can help them later to learn to read the notes if interested. I included page numbers for every song connecting to a Bible story from multiple children's Bibles.
Learn different languages or reinforce English language learning - Languages help retain culture! I include the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) to guide pronunciation of languages. This "alphabet" of sounds and symbols was developed to represent the various sounds that are similar in languages. However, the symbols do not convey the nuances and beauty of the languages, especially the ones that are tonal based like many in Africa. Listening to and learning from those who speak the language is always best. Honoring the languages of those around us brings harmony!
Continue learning Bible verses, solfege, music theory and languages to sing in choir or with small ensembles in Level 2, 3, 4 and more. If you have any questions contact [email protected]. Happy singing!
