Intonation
- Sing with reasonably secure intonation
Draw attention to the importance of pitching accurately. Perform a song and ask learners to indicate changes of pitch through gesture, e.g. showing when the pitch changes by moving their hands (sol-fa hand-signs can be used).
Ask learners to sing the notes of a triad in root position, gradually varying the order of the notes.
‘Voice to voice’ usually encourages better intonation than using a piano/keyboard.
Ask learners to sing up and down the first five notes of the major scale unaccompanied, at a suitable pitch, either using sol-fa, numbers or note names.
Learners should be encouraged to hear each sound internally before they sing it. Sol-fa is a great help.
When the above exercise is secure, extend to singing intervals to numbers, e.g.1–1, 1–2, 1–3, 1–4, 1–5.
This activity also helps to develop the aural recognition of intervals.
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