Reading parts from open scores is an important skill for all musicians. Whether your focus is instrumental or vocal music, training your eyes to read multiple parts simultaneously will strengthen your ability to comprehend your chamber and ensemble repertoire.

Our focus in this class will be four-part choral scores for soprano, alto, tenor, and bass (SATB). The soprano, alto, and bass lines sound as written. The tenor part is written in treble clef, but sounds one octave lower. Always play the tenor part in the register that it sounds (i.e., down one octave from how it appears).

Ways to Practice Score Reading

Identify linear intervals: Say the first letter name, then speak the direction and distance of each successive interval in one part. For this exercise, ignore the written rhythm and proceed with each interval steadily in the same pulse. After speaking the intervals, repeat the exercise while also playing the notes.

For example, for the soprano part of 69.1: “D, up a fourth, same, up a third, same, down a second, down a second,” etc.

Identify vertical distance between parts: Choose two parts and name the interval distance between them (don’t worry about quality). If the interval is greater than an octave, reduce it to the interval an octave smaller (e.g. instead of eleventh, say fourth).

For example, for the alto and tenor parts of 69.1: “Same, third, third, fourth, fourth, third, fourth,” etc.

Practice downbeats: Play all the notes on the downbeat of each measure, then look ahead, preparing your hands for the next downbeat.