Ear training students using Kba Software at Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Brasil
AN INTEGRATED SIGHT SINGING/MELODIC DICTATION COURSE
Sight singing (sing pitches while reading music) and melodic dictation (write music while hearing pitches) are reverse skills.
One day, as we practiced with one of the standard sight singing texts, it occured to me that students might improve their accuracy if they sang exercises with the exact same key, rhythm patterns, scale steps, and skips as in their melodic dictation. That is to say, if sight singing and melodic dictation were to directly mediate each other.
PITCH, RHYTHMIC, HARMONIC AND MELODIC DICTATION WITH EACH STUDENT WORKING AT APPROPRIATE INDIVIDUAL LEVELS
Computer assisted instruction provides an individualized classroom. Replace the 'lock step' approach of teacher dictation with student learning at his/her own level and speed.
Determine course grade by the proficiency level reached by each student.
For example, in the course outlines below, if the student completes the second column level with an overall average of 80% accuracy by the end of the semester, the student receives a term grade of 'C', next column level 'B', highest column level 'A'.
Test sight singing individually at mid-term and finals.
DICTATION LEVEL GOALS FOR FIRST SEMESTER, BROOKHAVEN COLLEGE, DALLAS, TX
DICTATION LEVEL GOALS FOR SECOND SEMESTER, BROOKHAVEN COLLEGE, DALLAS, TX
Brookhaven Community College students have varied degrees of preparation. Each student proceeds at his/her own rate. Overall Unit Goals Grade computed as follows: 10% Rhythm/ 30% Melody or Pitch/ 20% Intervals/ 20% Chords/ 20% Sight Singing.
In each semester, if the student achieves 80% accuracy overall on:
Column 2 Levels, (midterm) he/she receives a 'C',
Column 3 Levels, he/she receives a 'B',
Column 4 Levels, (final) he/she receives an 'A',
The above is for reference only. Instructors should set Column Level Goals appropriate for their school, student preparation and initiative.
Kba music learning programs are appropriate for 4 semesters of ear training. If considering adoption, please email for site license and additional information.
Ear Training Instructional Objectives: The student will make an immediate, accurate identification of pitches, intervals, rhythm patterns, and chords. Assumptions: Graduated exercises with immediate feedback provide the best learning environment. Immediate response is more efficient than delayed response. Short, frequently repeated drill is more effective than single, long period drill. A small error rate assists learning (above 80% accuracy). A large error rate (below 80% accuracy) inhibits learning. Materials: Pitch, Chord, Rhythm, and Melodic ID programs, and companion sight singing text (free printable download above). Equipment: PCs with Windows, sound cards, headphones, associated sounding keyboards are useful but not required. Instructor requires PC, sound card and speakers, and sounding keyboard. Suggested class scheduling: Classes should meet (1) twice a week for 80 minutes, or (2) three times a week for 50 minutes. Circumstances may dictate other scheduling; but aural fatigue makes practice for longer than 80 minutes significantly less effective.
NOTE:
To correct Chord ID and Rhythm ID answers, click the box to be changed; click the correct answer button.
To correct notes in Melodic ID, click the note to be corrected; click the correct note on the screen keyboard.
Correct rhythm errors as above.
Gil Trythall, February 2007, Dallas, TX, USA
LEARNING STRATEGIES
