Danny Miller

MUSE 356

Chapter 16: Teaching Sight-Singing Skills

Kenneth H. Phillips
2016

3. How do moveable do and fixed do differ? Which is more commonly used by

music teachers in the United States?

Moveable do is a system where the first scale degree in each key is assigned to the

syllable do. This means that not one pitch is do, but rather whatever the tonic is is

do. Fixed do is where the pitch C is always assigned to the syllable do. This means

that no matter what the key is, the syllables are always assigned to the same pitches.

The one more commonly used in the United States is the moveable do system. I

believe many people have come to the realization that moveable do is a much more

effective system pedagogically. It allows for better associations and makes it easier

to sight-read. Having do always be home or the tonic within the key makes sight-

singing more comfortable for students. Fixed do is something that can be used

effectively for people with perfect pitch this is not something that is common in the

world. Because fixed do always has the same pitches for each syllable, people with

perfect pitch can always here the syllables in their heads, but it is impossible for

others to sing the other syllables perfectly without the help of a piano or other

instrument. Moveable do is more inclusive for the majority without perfect pitch

because they dont need to pull notes out of thin air because they can always here do

is the center of the key.