Turns out it's literally a 75 minute sight singing practice session (exact words of the professor). I can't sing as is, but having to come to the front of the class (and sometimes doing partner sessions face to face) is really awkward and embarrassing for me. It's mainly Solfege (Do-Re-Mi, etc). I really want to be a game music composer one day, but is this even helpful to know?
That kind of stuff helps you to be able to hear music in your head just from looking at it, which is very useful. Also, if you're going to be a composer, you need to be able to hear your ideas in your head before you write them down. It's definitely useful, but if that's all you do, I'd say it seems a bit limited.
That class is called MUS170, and I also am taking MUS171, which is written theory. We do a lot of listening and analyzing in there. The best part is that it's very little classical music; we actually listen to a lot of contemporary music (like '80s electronic music, folk music). Hopefully this aural training will be good for me though.
Those classes are two sides of the same coin, it'll all come together in your later years of education.
Here its called "Ear training and Sight singing". lol, on my first day of class my professor said "You have 24 hours to get over your fear of singing in front of a group." and the next day our class was twice as small-the losers, it isnt that bad! Of course I sound terrible, thats why I play the Trombone! But atleast I know the correct pitches!
Sight-singing?
That sounds an awful lot like Karaoke.
XD. Nah.
Rather than singing about Stacy's Mom, you have to sing the notes that come up, which often don't have any words.
It sounds easy, but it takes a lot of practice to get good at it.
When I stay after school for all-state practice for chorus, all we do is sight sing to prepare for it.
The teacher doesn't force us to do it by ourselves, but she does request it.
Waitwaitwait, you don't sing and suddenly you're taking a college course in it? Dang.
Good luck with that.
It's all tools of the trade, every good musician needs this foundation, regardless of what you actually want to do with your degree.
Quote from: Master_Z on August 26, 2011, 06:01:11 PM(like '80s electronic music, folk music).
Now I want you to watch the Safety Dance video. Notcie how the dacing midget truely brings out the depth and color of the this spectacular piece of music. You should be taking notes, this will all be on your final.
It's just as practical as knowing piano, theory, and music history. No matter the degree, you must have a background with all of it.
Quote from: Jub3r7 on August 27, 2011, 01:52:45 PMWaitwaitwait, you don't sing and suddenly you're taking a college course in it? Dang.
Good luck with that.
Lol, its not hard if your not retarded. We just sing solfege to several random ≈16 bar melodys every morning. You get use to it.
(this'll be my second year of it, lol.)