Customer Reviews

A New Approach to Sight Singing (Fourth Edition)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The authors of this book are simply incredible! It is the greatest tool for sight-reading I have ever seen. There are many things to work on in this book besides reading melodies. This book contains melodies for sight singing, duets, a sing and play section that incorporates piano playing into the sight singing. There is also a glossary of terms and an appendix of frequently used musical signs that can help the beginner or the forgetful musician in training. There are exercises of every variety in this book. Exercises are written in all the major and minor keys, including the harmonic and melodic scales, in the treble, alto, and bass clefs, and there are even exercises that revert to the Greek modes. This book is perfect for all sight singers, from the beginner to the most accomplished musician.

I bought this book mainly because I was using an older
edition of the book I borrowed from library. Comparing
that to the available literature, I found it extremely
educational and well organized. It is a great book
that takes you slowly through different skills of
sight singing, with plenty of exercises for each one.
The exercises are sorted from easy to more complex
ones. The book is fit for people both singing in
chorus or solo. The rest of the book are exercises
that are more like music pieces (rather than
exercises) and come with piano accompaniment and one
chapter is dedicated to duos.

However to me it seems that this edition is a little
more simplified and less serious than the previous
ones. Also I think for the price you pay, you deserve
a more decent cover than plastic comb (the earlier
editions are hardcover).

This is a fabulous, progressive book of sight-singing exercises for the serious vocalist. It should be noted that this book will NOT teach you HOW TO sight-sing...it is not a tutorial in that sense. You have to know the basics already, such as recognizing music notation and key signatures. However, the exercises are the best I've found yet as "raw material" for reinforcing the solfege and rhythm aspects of sight-singing. It includes both "contrived" exercises by the authors as well as excerpts from well-known songs and classic literature. Be aware that the site has multiple listings for this book...when purchasing, especially used, make sure you get the 4th edition, because it includes revisions and additional exercises that were not part of previous editions. New, it is pricey, but I purchased a beautiful, used copy here and saved a bundle off the list price. Worth every penny!

I don't usually review products, but this book is great. If you are a beginner to intermediate musician, this book has sight singing and sing-and-play exercises for each level, slowly getting more difficult as you go along. You will find yourself easily getting better as you go through each exercise. I was getting better and I didn't even know it!

It is what it is. If your music program uses this book, then it serves it's function. It has plenty of sight singing examples for duets and solo. I wish it had some rhythm exercises in it as well to make it more well rounded. The examples progressively get more challenging.

My grievance with this book is that it is HORRIBLY put together. After about a semester of use the binding starts coming lose and the pages and cover pieces start to come out. It's very frustrating. My schools music program uses this book. After about 2 years everyone's book looks like a mess.

I am a music student at the University of Miami and this has been the required text for three levels of ear training. I must say that I found this text less than helpful in teaching you how to sight read. It was full of complicated melodies--but no suggestions or hints on how to become a better sight singer. If you're looking for a book of exercises that make no sense--go for it. But if you're looking for a teaching tool--this is not the text to turn to.

This book HAS ONLY NOTES IN IT. The instructions are just on a few pages. I think the author could have spent some hours more in writing (and this is true EXPECIALLY IF WE LOOK AT THE PRICE).

I'm at intermediate level in sight singing, and quite advanced in sight reading, I bought this book to improve my skills.

I'll try to study on this book, I won't just let it "rust" on a shelf, but I EXPECTED MORE INSTRUCTIONS. MAY BE THIS CAN BE A WONDERFUL BOOK IF YOU PRACTICE ON IT CONSTALNTLY, but in these days, where self-teaching is more important than in the past I think this book has an OBSOLETE-APPROACH.

THIS IS A BOOK FOR A SIGHT-SINGING CLASS IN SOME INSTITUTE. PERIOD.

The text is really quite old. I didn't see anything especially novel in it. In the end, if you want to learn something you have to exert an effort.

The item was perfect but the time it took to get here was a bit disconcerting. Be sure your not ordering this book from the UK. Delivery is a bit slow. No fault of the seller, just buyer beware to order it in plenty of time.

I gave this book three stars because it is the textbook for my sight-singing/dictation class here at college and seeing it on Amazon gave me the creeps simply because that class haunts and consumes me! :) So I guess it's a good book because it's really helped out my sight singing techniques, but still... it frightens me to see this book on Amazon :) I don't think I could look at it unbaised ever again. :)