Basics ofSong Leading

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Staff

• A staff is made up of:– Five horizontal lines– Four spaces

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Pitch

• Pitches are named after the first seven letters of the alphabet (A B C D E F G)

E: EmptyG: Garbage

B: BeforeD: Daddy

F: Flips

Line

s

FA

CE

Spac

es

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Shaped Notes

• Seven-shape system using a “moveable do” system.

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Note Values

• Each note has a specific duration.

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Meter (Time)

• Meter is the regular recurring pattern of strong and weak beats of equal duration; also known as time. The meter or time signature in a musical composition is indicated by a fraction, and located at the beginning of a piece of music. The lower number of the fraction tells what kind of note receives one beat. The upper number tells how many beats are in a measure.

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Meter (Time) Continued…

• In simple meter the upper number is either 2, 3, or 4. Each beat is subdivided by two.

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Meter (Time) Continued…

• In compound meter the upper number is either 6, 9, or 12. Each beat is a dotted note and subdivided into groups of three beats.

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The ‘DO’ Note

• The ‘DO’ note will be the first note you blow on your pitch pipe.

• The ‘DO’ note is always the triangle note as illustrated below.

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The ‘DO’ Note Continued…

DOME

SODO

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Metronomes

• For singing practice at home use the following online metronomes:– http://www.metronomeonline.com/– http://www.seventhstring.com/metronome/metr

onome.html– http://www.jamplay.com/free-online-metronome

/free-online-metronome.html– http://www.online-stopwatch.com/metronome/– http://www.flutetunes.com/metronome/– http://a.bestmetronome.com/

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Things to Remember…

• Sometimes we sing all verses and then the chorus last.– The last note before the chorus is not always the same

as the first note of the song (268 & 426).• Sometimes the tempo will change in the middle of

a song (455, 566).• The song leader should be heard…yet not

overpower.– Sing so the person in the back row can hear you.– Use your stomach muscles.

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Practice, Practice, Practice…

DOME

SODO

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Practice Songs

• 3• 198• 199• 455• 566