My original posting:
Having re-auditioned my community choir over the last month (we called them
"voice-checks!") I need to challenge several of them to do some concentrated
work on their reading skills over the summer months. Can anyone recommend
any good software or text/CD combinations that are usable for singers with
minimal keyboard skills? Many of these are people who have never formally
studied music - they know how to follow it, but they tend to be reactive
rather than proactive as musicians.
Brigid Coult
Richmond Chorus, BC
brigid(a)uniserve.com



Results: The vast majority of the responses were of the “please post your
findings” variety! There are a number of people obviously on the same
wave-length, but I don’t know whether there is a lack of resources or what…
Thanks to all who had suggestions.

***The only suggestion I can make -- and this is not terribly
sophisticated -- is to encourage those who go to church to use hymn singing
as practice during services. I suspect a church would also loan a hymnal
for home work as well. If a singer has been going to church regularly they
probably have in their ear a lot more music than they realize, and by
looking at the printed hymn, and thinking how it goes in their mind, the
learning process may go more quickly.
Is it feasible to steer people towards open "summer sings"? Anything to
keep them singing!!

***I've heard from several of my students that solfege.org is a good site
for reading skills.

*** Rising Software’s Auralia , distributed by Sibelius, is a comprehensive
ear training software package for all types of musicians owning PC’s running
the Windows or Mac operating system. Auralia offers training at difficulty
levels suitable for all students, from young beginning musicians to college
level students, broken down into four subject areas Chords, Rhythm,
Intervals & Scales, and Pitch & Melody. These areas are covered by 26 drill
based topics. These drills typically provide examples of melodies, rhythms,
chords, notes, intervals, etc for the student to identify or sing or play
back to the computer using a microphone, midi keyboard, or the computer
keyboard and mouse. Where possible, Auralia provides the user with more than
one option for answering questions.

*** Suggestion: our publication, Brock McElheran's "Music Reading by
Intervals", which is meant for adults and is suitable for individual study
as well as for group use. (A pitch-pipe will be needed.) The Web site of our
distributor gives a brief description
>>>http://www.elkinmusic.com/publisher/publisher.html
***Perfect Pitch - >>>http://www.perfectpitch.com/
***MusicLab Melody is a great program which covers basic theory as well as
pitch and rhythm, sung into the computer

***“Sight-Singing Made Simple” by David Bauguess – it comes with a CD, and
is available from many sources, including Mainely A Cappella and Amazon
(this was recommended by two people)