Product Description

Designed for the "musicianship" portion of the freshman theory sequence, Benjamin/Horvit/Nelson MUSIC FOR SIGHT SINGING, Fifth Edition, presents music that is carefully chosen to challenge--not overwhelm--you.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #91486 in Books
• Published on: 2008-01-08
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Spiral-bound
• 376 pages

Review
I like the fact that the bulk of the material is specifically composed— and well written at that. The material is varied and musical, making it very easy to comment on and insist on musicality in performance. Well done.

Another strength is the obvious attention to the whole organization of the text. Rhythm and melody concepts (with attention to ’melodized harmony’) are very well thought out. The sequence of ideas and exercises is excellent.

About the Author
Thomas E. Benjamin has recently retired as Chair of the Department of Music Theory at the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University. A composer, conductor, performer, and music theorist with more than 40 compositions published and recorded, he also holds fellowships and awards from the MacDowell Colony, Yaddo, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Michael Horvit is Professor of Composition and Theory at the Moores School of Music, University of Houston. His works range from solo instrumental and vocal pieces to large symphonic and choral compositions and operas, all widely performed in the United States, Europe, Japan, and Israel. He has published with C.F. Peters, MorningStar, Recital Publications, Shawnee Press, E.C. Schirmer, Southern, and Transcontinental, and has CDs with the Albany label. Horvit's awards include the Martha Baird Rockefeller Award as well as the National Endowment for the Arts.

Robert S. Nelson teaches music theory and composition at the Moores School of Music, University of Houston. A composer in residence and music director of the Houston Shakespeare Festival for 17 seasons, he has also received numerous commissions for compositions and arrangements for the Houston Symphony Orchestra.

Customer Reviews

not the best choice
Of the three texts I have used to teach college-level ear training, this is definitely the weakest. Most of the material is composed by the authors, and it is often ugly, awkward stuff. The chapters could be definitely be sequenced in a more reasonable way (the minor mode, for example, is not introduced until Ch 6) and the level of difficulty is very poorly managed. Indeed, it doesn't seem like the authors have many good ideas about how students actually learn to sight-sing - many of their primitive early exercises (rhythms without meters, melodies that wander randomly up and down the scale) are actually much more difficult than later ones.

I would strongly recommend either Richard's Ottman's "Music for Sight-Singing" or Berkowitz-Fontrier-Kraft's "A New Approach to Sight Singing" over this book.

Very solid sight reading book
While the organization of the book might be lacking the material inside is quite strong. The dedicated sight reader has many avenues to travel through rhythmic exercises, varying difficulties in solo lines and repertoire selections. I personally enjoy the duet and repertoire sections. A fine teaching tool and great asset to singers learning to sight read.

Music fo Sight Singing
Love it, just great. superior book for serious musician wanting to improve their sight singing skill!