Why Solfege?

Why do we teach the Solfege syllables in Let's Play Music?

• Encourages the use of the most important instrument that we will ever have—our VOICE.
• Gives PHYSICAL PLACEMENT to each note in the major scale.
• AUDIATION or inner hearing is developed.
  
• Increases the ability to IMPROVISE.
• Improves SIGHT READING skills.
• We auraly learn MUSICAL RELATIONSHIPS independent of the key we are in.

A Story

I will illustrate with a story by KL Wong, a musician who learned to play the piano by taking traditional piano lessons:

I always admired people who could just improvise and play any tune on the keyboard. This was especially so because I sometimes played in a band and composed music, and not being able to do that was a severe handicap. It dawned on me, when looking down at the keyboard, that despite all those years of learning the piano, I basically didn’t really KNOW it at all! I could operate it mechanically, sure, but without any deep understanding of it.

Many years ago, I had a Filipino singing teacher who could also play the keyboard. He never took any piano exams, and could never play some of the pieces that I could. But he was someone who really understood the keyboard. He understood it as well as he understood his own voice. The keyboard was like an extension of his body. Just name him any song, and he’d be able to play it even if he had never played it before. A song was too high to sing to? No problem! He’d just transpose it down instantly.

So I asked him how he did it. And that, sadly, was the first time I heard about solfege (or “solfeggio”, as he called it).

“What’s that?” I asked.

“You know, like: Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So…” he replied.

“Oh, from ‘The Sound of Music’?” I asked. “Yes! I know that song!” I commented enthusiastically, though I still had no idea how a song from a popular musical could help.

My ignorance on the subject was plain to see. Since the day he enlightened me how solfege works (and that solfege did not ‘come from’ that song!), I have always kept in mind the importance of learning solfege.

Learning Solfege develops the ability to really KNOW music, not just to be able to produce pleasing sounds on the piano.

Like Reading

From BrillKids:

Imagine looking through a musical score and being able to ‘read’ it (by singing it out, or having the melodies reproduced in your head) as easily as you’re able to read a book (aloud or in your head). Knowing solfege is like being able to read words.

Conversely, not knowing solfege is like not knowing how to read out words. It’s like all you’re able to do when encountering words is to type them back out on a computer, and let the computer read the words out for you. In both cases, you have become dependent on that machine / instrument to be able to hear the words or music. By having focused on training our fingers to operate an external instrument instead of training our own musical instruments (our ear and voice), we’ve effectively outsourced the most crucial part of musicality, with dire consequences.

And similarly with writing. Knowing solfege is like being able to write out the words that you speak or hear. When listening to music, you know what notes are being played (at least relatively), so you’re able to write them out. Without solfege, the chances are, you’d be quite lost. It’s a bit like listening to someone talk but not being able to take dictation because you have not mastered the alphabet.

I am, therefore, thoroughly convinced as to the benefits of solfege towards developing musicality and a good ear. That’s why I consider any musical training (for any instrument) that does not include the teaching of solfege to be severely lacking.

Easy and Natural

Compare singing “C, D, E, F, G” (See, Dee, Ee, Eff, Gee) with singing “Do Re Mi Fa So” and it should be obvious which system is more practical for singing.

Teaching children to sing solfege is so easy and natural – which little child has reservations about singing out loud, even if it may not be in tune? If using the voice is encouraged and fostered from a young age, children grow up to being less self-conscious about singing.

I don't know anyone who doesn't enjoy listening to music, but not everyone is able to experience the joy of participating in the creation of music. Singing and playing music has been a profound source of happiness in my life. I love that I am able help children develop their musical abilities and foster true musicianship.