Topic by wws

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  • wws
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Topic: solfege/ parallel 3rds

Hi everyone!

I am practicing parallel thirds in GM and FM, and the only way I can track mentally when to hit a black key is by reciting the "movable do" of the root note, and (for GM) remembering that on Ti my left hand hits a sharp and on Sol my right hand hits a sharp.

Is there a better way to do this?  Should I be reciting the full third (like "Re-Fa") and  mentally tracking the hands separately?

Or something else?

I would also love to hear any other thoughts on using solfège to better understand and play music.

Thx!

Reply by jcitron

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Re: solfege/ parallel 3rds

wws wrote:

Hi everyone!

I am practicing parallel thirds in GM and FM, and the only way I can track mentally when to hit a black key is by reciting the "movable do" of the root note, and (for GM) remembering that on Ti my left hand hits a sharp and on Sol my right hand hits a sharp.

Is there a better way to do this?  Should I be reciting the full third (like "Re-Fa") and  mentally tracking the hands separately?

Or something else?

I would also love to hear any other thoughts on using solfège to better understand and play music.

Thx!

Nope. Do whatever works for you mentally until you get the notes under your fingers and into your mind. For things such as this, I've got arpeggios in 6ths bugging me right now, I say the actual note names instead of Solfege which I had to do in music school and hated, but do whatever you find comfortable with.

Working slowly, and I mean really S L O W L Y and accurately, (as written with double underlines and scratched boldly by a piano teacher) is the only way to make it work. Once you get the motion and the notes and fingering correct, you can then increase the tempo.

As much as we hate it, very slow practice is the key to a lot of things we do.

Reply by wws

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Re: solfege/ parallel 3rds

jcitron wrote:

instead of Solfege which I had to do in music school and hated

I hear you, but for me Solfege triggers some weird part of my brain that doesn't get activated otherwise; and I think it's cool.  I have a very busy, verbal, interior monologue; the solfege syllables take that over so I can't replay work conversations when I practice because I am saying "do mi sol mi do" to myself as I practice arps.

Reply by Luc Henrion

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Re: solfege/ parallel 3rds

wws wrote:
jcitron wrote:

instead of Solfege which I had to do in music school and hated

I hear you, but for me Solfege triggers some weird part of my brain that doesn't get activated otherwise; and I think it's cool.  I have a very busy, verbal, interior monologue; the solfege syllables take that over so I can't replay work conversations when I practice because I am saying "do mi sol mi do" to myself as I practice arps.

Everyone has their own method... For my part, I don't speak the names of the notes (neither orally nor mentally) but I "see" them on the keyboard, and I could name them if necessary, but that would slow me down ;-)

Luc Henrion's Website

Reply by jcitron

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Re: solfege/ parallel 3rds

wws wrote:
jcitron wrote:

instead of Solfege which I had to do in music school and hated

I hear you, but for me Solfege triggers some weird part of my brain that doesn't get activated otherwise; and I think it's cool.  I have a very busy, verbal, interior monologue; the solfege syllables take that over so I can't replay work conversations when I practice because I am saying "do mi sol mi do" to myself as I practice arps.

It's truly an art to be able to say or sing Solfege and that's amazing. It's good that you are doing that because work can be stressful and take away your music. I remember having that problem when I worked in customer administration and order administration (kind of the same position at one point). I would go home and continue my work with customers as I was doing other things!

I can hear the music in my head as I read it and even separate parts out when I read a score while listening to an orchestra. I can also sight read nearly anything that's put in front of me and even transcribe instrumental parts, although that is generally very slow because I have to translate the note positions on the staff and keep my brain on the notes and where they are. When I was in college, I made extra cash during music juries because I used to accompany the instrumental and voice majors.

Memorizing... Well, I can do it but I don't need to do it any longer. Memorizing for me is for turning pages or working through a tough area so I don't need to focus on the page while I play the notes.