COMPREHENSIVE LESSONS - SINGING COMPANION LESSON BOOK - Curwen Hand Signs, Notes, Rhythm Counting

Sep 28, 2026

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Comprehensive lessons in the Singing Companion lesson book present a carefully graded, step-by-step method for learning music through sight-singing. The 36 lessons reinforce pitch and rhythm sequences across six levels, introducing solfege syllables and correlated music-theory goals displayed at the start of each lesson. Instruction emphasizes using Curwen hand signs to connect physically with heard pitches, understanding note-head placement, and applying rhythm counting patterns for accuracy.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages92

Reading Time2 h 22 min

AccessFree to download

About the Singing Companion

Curwen Hand Signs

Notes

Rhythm Counting

Terms & Symbols Tips

COMPREHENSIVE LESSONS SINGING COMPANION LESSON BOOK Name: 36 from Malovance, Wieneke, Melodia and Burgmayer ABOUT THE SINGING COMPANION 2 The Singing Companion is a carefully graded, step-by-step approach to reading music sight-singing. The 36 lessons of The Singing Companion follow and reinforce the pitch and rhythm sequence of the six levels teaching goals, correlated music theory concepts and introduction of solfege syllables are presented in the colored boxes at the start of each lesson. The aim is for singers and instrumentalists ofall ages to be able to hear and sing solfege rhythm accuracy. This acquired musical literacy will speed the learning of music, and Exercises are adapted from the three levels of The Weineke Method Melodia (Samuel W. Cole 3 CURWEN HAND SIGNS The application of solfeggio is best reinforced by using the Curwen hand signs or by adjusting your hand by levels to help indicate the pitches going up or down. This aids in connecting physically to what you hear and will also help show the contour of the melody. Pay careful attention to placement of the hand in relationship to the body. Use the diagram below to help you. 4 NOTES The note head tells you which note to sing. The direction of the stem does not matter. ~~ & 􀁄 ~~~~ ~~nostteeheadm ~~ & 􀁄 ~~~~ ~~ sol mi | RHYTHM
COUNTING | | | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | Q | Q | Q | Q | | | | counting | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | | | | other counting | ta
sh | ta
sh | ta
sh | ta
sh | | 1 & b 4 4 ~~ œ œ œ ~~~~ ~~~~ œ œ ~~~~ ~~~~ œ Œ ~~~~ ~~~~ œ œ ~~~~ ~~ œ sol sol sol sol œ Œ sol sol sol œ Œ sol sol œ Œ sol sol sol 2 ~~ & b 44 œ œ œ œ ~~~~ œ Œ œ Œ ~~~~ œ œ œ œ ~~~~ Œ Œ œ œ ~~ mi mi mi mi mi mi mi mi mi mi mi mi 3 & b 4 œ 4 œ sol sol sol sol mi mi mi mi œ sol sol sol sol mi mi mi mi | | | œ | | œ | | œ | | | œ | œ | œ | | œ | | œ | | œ | | | | œ | œ | œ | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | & b œ Œ Œ sol sol œ Œ Œ mi mi œ Œ sol mi œ Œ sol sol mi & b 4 4 | | | | | | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | œ œ | | | œ | | œ œ | | | | | œ | | | | | œ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Œ œ sol sol mi mi 4 œ Œ sol mi œ sol sol mi mi œ Œ Œ Œ sol ~~ & b œ œ œ Œ ~~~~ œ œ œ Œ ~~~~ œ œ œ œ ~~~~ œ Œ Œ Œ ~~ sol mi sol sol mi sol sol sol mi mi sol 5 ~~ & b 44 œ œ œ Œ ~~~~ œ œ œ Œ ~~~~ œ œ œ œ ~~~~ œ œ œ Œ ~~ mi sol mi mi ~~ & b œ œ œ Œ ~~~~ œ œ œ Œ ~~~~ œ œ œ Œ ~~~~ œ Œ œ Œ ~~ mi mi sol mi Level PRIMERA Complete: Date 5 3 LESSON 2 [add la] |
TERMS & SYMBOLS TIPS | | | --- | --- | | Always use the Curwen hand signs when singing in solfege. Make sure you are doing these at the correct height on your body. This will help you place the notes because you will be following the contour of the melody with your hand signs. See page number three for a complete diagram. | Always remember to use good posture:
1. Feet slightly apart
2. Knees straight but not locked
3. Ribs high
4. Shoulders down
5. Chin parallel with the floor
6. Keep dropped jaw | 1 􀀉 􀁄 sol sol mi sol mi sol sol la la sol sol mi 2 􀀉 􀁄 sol la sol sol la sol sol la sol mi sol la sol 􀀉 sol sol la la sol mi sol sol la la sol sol la 􀀉 la la sol sol la sol la la sol mi sol la sol 4 􀀉 sol la sol mi sol mi 􀀉 sol la sol mi sol la mi 5 􀀉 mi sol la sol la mi Level PRIMER B Complete: Date LESSON 3 [ re-do] 6 RHYTHM COUNTING | | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | Q | Q | Q | Q | | | | | | | | counting | 1+ | 2+ | 3+ | 4+ | | other counting | ti-ti | ti-ti | ti-ti | ti-ti | 􀀉 􀁄 􀀗 | | | | | | | | |

FAQs

How is rhythm counting handled in these lessons?

Rhythm counting uses structured counts (e.g., 1–4) and alternative syllables for different rhythmic groupings to improve timing accuracy.

Sep 28, 2026

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