Excerpt from Manual of Graded Sight-Singing Exercises for Blackboard Use

When zero is used as a superior figure as etc., the note represented by the figure alone, might be written on either of two degrees of the staff, as, first line or fourth space; but when zero is used as an exponent the lower position is always meant.

A month's work is divided into weeks and the weeks are divided into days. From two to eight melodies are given for each day. As only four days' work are assigned for each week, the remaining day may be used for teaching rote-songs or review, as the supervisor or grade teacher desires. All of the exercises for the day should be written in notes on the blackboard staves before the lesson, so that the entire period may be used for singing. Ten or twelve feet of blackboard staves will, if the notes are written compactly, be sufficient to hold the exercises for any one day. The exercises are in one key for a month, then another key is taken up, and so on for seven months. After this the change from key to key is more frequent. The teacher must from the first exercise place the G clef, upon thestafi', write the proper signature for each key, the proper time-sign, and divide the music into measures. It is very important also that the correct pitch be given for each exercise or melody, but this rule, of course, need not be interpreted too strictly when passing from exercise to exercise during any one day's lesson, provided the children maintain proper pitch. The teacher should guide the pupils with the pointer until they are able to sing the exercises moderately fast, when they may begin to beat time. During their first attempts to beat time while singing, the teacher should continue to help at the board with the pointer, but as they become more independent the class may be left to sing the exercises without the teacher's guidance, except as she beats time and keeps general control of the class.

The first few exercises should be sung to the class. It is new matter, and must be presented and explained. After a little imitation work in which the class have grasped the names of the notes used, as do's, re's, and mi's, explain the principle upon which these notes are combined to make melodies. Put it concretely, as: all notes upon the second line are do's, and sound alike; all notes in the second space are re's, and also sound alike, and so on. Then let class use their new knowledge in singing a new melody without assistance. Sing every new syllable to them when it first appears in an exercise. It is a new element. Help, teach, encourage and interest them until they develop the power to see, hear and sing correctly, or nearly so. As regards signatures, kind of notes used, - as quarter-notes, half-notes, etc. And the significance of the figures used as time signs, proceed as follows.

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