Solfege and band

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Permalink Reply by Russ Weaver on June 21, 2009 at 5:25pm

Akeem,
Many of the best band directors take advantage of the solfege method. There are also many different applications and ways to utilize the system. I have seen conductors split their bands into halves and, using solfege hand signals, conduct chorales on the spot! (This is great for working on watching the stick) I have also seen directors that use chromatic solfege to the point that their students can play nearly anything by ear.
I use solfege for beginning band before they ever get into their books. It is by and far the fastest and most effective way of teaching beginners that I have ever used. It gets them on their horns and working on sound first and foremost. I learned it about 12 years ago here in Central Florida and have moved further and further into it each year. It is great. Here's how:

1. Students learn solfege by singing and then transferring it to their instruments.
2. Low Do (doe) is Bb
3. We use movable Do (Some directors use fixed Do and the Europeans sometimes use C as Do.. it varies though by Country and institutions.)
4. All of the most successful programs I know of, use some form of the solfege system for their beginners.
5. We move into the reading of the books after 3 weeks of solfege study. (with some 10+ songs memorized)
6. We begin by making the entire fingering chart in the standard of excellence books with the solfege syllables... even the chromatic notes!
7. From then on in class it becomes important to use both systems in tandem.
8. Chorales from numbers are sung and played with solfege for warm up.
9. We work with our choral department to make sure we are using the same system across the board. (movable do)

Easy,

Russ

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Permalink Reply by Vito Montauk on October 19, 2009 at 7:53pm

I am in my third year directing middle schoolers and I have used solfege from day one. I made it a point, after graduating from UCF and not liking the fact that during my time there it seemed as though everyone new solfege (especially during ear training class), to teach it to my students. It is wonderful! One of the great things that I like to do is create Chorales on the Fly. Right after we finish a scale I go right into solfege. First we do it in unison and with my 2/3 year students I break it into duets ( two hands or point and sign) and trios ( point and sign). If you really want to see if your students know their scales, start it after you finish the scale and you will be amazed. Some of the benefits are that you can create music anytime, anywhere. For example, during middle school night at the high school, I like to "impress" or "show-off" to the parents and high schoolers because I do the signs and the students play the chorales. Parents cannot believe that "sign language" can be used in music. I recently added rhythms and you will be blown away at what they can do at the same time. During the game, when the HS is getting ready to do their show, I teach mini unison songs to my kids that I can solfege so that I do not have to use up some much paper. Songs that I do include; Intro to Mars (starts on me), Go team Go (do, me, fa, fi sol), and Eye of the Tiger ( |:me, me-ray-me, me-ray-me, me-do-do--ray :| ). This past year we added the introduction of Fiesta (C. Williams). The kids enjoy it because they feel like they are supporting both the band and the football team. I enjoy it because the students stand alone and the crowd loves it.

Now, if you can, try to do the different hand signs at the same time to make interesting duets. It is hard at first, but then that is the fun.

If you never tried solfege I highly recommend it. I love it and the kids love it. Actually, my top band wants us to compose a piece using solfege on the fly at our holiday performance. That is how much they like it.

Another thing, when students forget their instruments, I have them solfege their parts. I feel that it still gets them engaged in the music as opposed to the previous assignments I gave them before.

Enjoy,

Vito

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