Solfege

Solfege is a system of musical notation based on relationships between tones (also known as intervals). The notation on the staff is replaced with syllables (e.g. do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti, do) or their abbreviations (d,r,m,f,s,l,t,d). "Do" is chosen to be the tonic (central tone). The key or key signature is the tool that tells which pitch to use as Do based upon the number of sharps or flats that are present.

Curwen/Glover Hand Signs

The Kodly approach emphasizes the importance of learning how to sing on pitch. In the 18th century, John Spencer Curwen drew upon an earlier music teaching system known as Norwich Sol-fa, which had been devised by Sarah Glover, and developed hand signs to go with the solfege syllables (do re mi, etc.). Kodly integrated these hand signs into his teaching methods. Hand signs are a way of giving a physical placement for a vocal pitch. The low "do" begins at your midsection. Each pitch is then above the previous one. Thus, you have the hand signs going up when the pitch goes up. The upper "do" is at eye level.

Common scales
Some common scales are given below in solfege for reference. Ascending the chromatic scale (using sharps): Do Di Re Ri Mi Fa Fi Sol Si La Li Ti Do Descending the chromatic scale (using flats): Do Ti Te La Le Sol Se Fa Mi Me Re Ra Do The major scale: Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Ti Do The minor scale (natural): La Ti Do Re Mi Fa Sol La The minor scale (harmonic): La Ti Do Re Mi Fa Si La The minor scale (melodic): La Ti Do Re Mi Fi Si La Sol Fa Mi Re Do Ti La The whole tone scale: Do Re Mi Fi Si Li Do

Do

Di

Special Hand Signs for Chromatic & Minor Scales Re Ri Mi Fa Fi Sol Si La Li

Ti

Do

Do

Ti

Te

La

Le

Sol

Se

Fa

Mi

Me

Re

Ra

Do

Circle of Fifths

Essential questions: 1. What type of symbol do I see (i.e. flat or sharp)? 2. How many do I see? C Major 0#/0

C is Do
1# 1

G is Do
2 #s

F is Do
2
s

D is Do
3 #s

is Do
3
s

A is Do
4 #s

is Do
4
s

E is Do
5 #s

is Do
5
s

B is Do
6 #s

is Do
6
s

F# is Do
7 #s

is Do
7

C# is Do

is Do