When choosing songs for your voice lessons, consider a variety of factors, such as phrasing, repeat, melody, timbre, lyrics, dynamics, mood, and affect. Also, consider the starting pitch for your student. If they are not yet comfortable singing at a higher pitch, you can begin by teaching them a song by note technique. This technique is used with students in the fourth or fifth grades.
Teaching a song by rote
One of the biggest challenges in vocal training for beginners is teaching a new song to a young, beginner vocal student. In the case of young children, teaching a song by rote requires a lot of repetition. As you know, young children learn best through repetition and love to “do” things. However, if you teach a complex song, you should consider using written lyrics, overhead transparencies, or word sheets. In this article, we will explore six ways to teach a song by rote.
The first step is to get your student to sing the song by rote. This can be done either with a teacher or without a teacher. The main benefit of this approach is that students don’t have to spend too much time analysing the minute differences between notes. This approach ensures a quick and accurate result for both parties. In addition, it is also a great way to get a student’s attention by demonstrating the process to the class.
The next step is to teach the student how to read the music. Once the student knows how to read a score, he or she can begin to learn a song by rote. This method is also helpful for developing musical memory, as it helps develop students’ auditory abilities. To begin teaching a song by rote, it is important to give each student a “stop” signal so that they can pause before they sing the next line.
Teaching a song by ear
The basic strategy of teaching a song by ear is to sing without lyrics or music. Songs that are simple to sing by ear can be taught by rote, but those that are more difficult will need written lyrics, overhead transparencies, or word sheets. When teaching a song by ear, follow these six steps:
Before beginning to teach a song by ear, students should be able to analyze its components, including meter, phrases, and sections. This will ensure they have a solid understanding of the song material. Once the student has mastered these elements, it is time to introduce chords. Using trial and error, students can try adding or subtracting chords. Always ask, “Does this sound right?”
Students can practice their new skills by listening to short clips of songs. They should pay close attention to notes and vocal phrasing. Then, students should be able to discuss musical elements and their effect. For this, they can cycle through the song clips from different genres and mix in songs that they already know. They should be able to distinguish between the opening and closing pitch and the notes that make up the song.