Description:
First and foremost, group singing requires confident and consistent intonation. That’s because acapella music, by nature, has no instrumentation for reference. Singers will receive their starting pitch from a pitch pipe, an instrument, or someone with perfect pitch - and that’s it! Consistency is crucial, even with the foundation of instruments to keep you grounded within a key. But confidence comes into play because you might “disagree” with your fellow singers on the pitch. (If you’re new to group singing, this is a nice way to say that somebody might stray from the key you’re supposed to be in, which puts the group out of tune with one another and sounds very bad).
The most common tendency for groups is to fall flat. Review our tutorial on intonation, specifically the video on “flatness”, for some targeted tips if you struggle with this!
As you sing in a group, you’re constantly listening to one another other to blend and balance. So it requires EXTRA vigilance, because if one person starts falling flat, the other singers will tend to fall flat with them, to stay in tune. Hence, confidence in knowing your part and the intervals you should be singing.
We have four exercises today to train your ear and increase your confidence.
First, the semitone scale. A semitone, also called a half-step or minor 2nd, is the smallest interval in Western music. On the piano or keyboard, any two keys right next to each other are a semitone apart. The semitone scale walks up and down, one half-step at a time. We’ll span an octave, and it sounds like this.
Let’s sing it together slowly. Now at a medium pace, we’ll keep going!
[Exercise: Semitone scale]
Next: the whole tone scale. A whole tone, also called a whole step or major second. We’ll again cover an octave, but it’ll sound a lot different than the semitone scale!
[Exercise: Whole tone scale]
Now for some medium leaps, we’ll tune a perfect fifth and perfect fourth. That first interval is a perfect fifth, followed by a perfect fourth.
[Exercise: Training medium leaps - Tonic Fifth Octave Fifth Tonic]
Finally, the larger leap of an octave. Just one tip before we start: sing the higher pitch in your head, even as you’re singing the lower one; that way it won’t take you by surprise! And if it’s in a range where you need extra space by dropping the jaw or lifting the soft palate, please do so! Here we go.
[Exercise: Training large leaps - Tonic Octave Tonic]
Great work!
Lessons:
Instructor: Camille van Niekerk
Camille van Niekerk is a singer, writer and vocal instructor in Southern California. Camille began studying voice and performing in musicals at age seven. In 2010, Camille began working towards her BA in Music Education at Azusa Pacific University. She then earned her teaching credential from San Diego State University and taught classroom choral and instrumental music. Shortly after moving to LA county, Camille began her private vocal studio, providing vocal coaching, ear training, and recording for students of all ages. She is constantly refining her skills and methods for greater versatility and effectiveness. When she is not teaching, Camille enjoys singing with the L.A. Choral Lab and Ensoma Creative. She lives in San Diego with her husband and loves going to the beach, practicing yoga, reading, and cooking.