Zoltan Kodaly said that children can best learn to sing in tune through two-part unaccompanied singing, and this should start at a very early age - possibly even first grade. This set has been developed in the hope of building that skill and developing children's taste for a cappella singing. While intended for classroom use, these songs can also be used with elementary choruses. Of the 27 songs in this collection, 22 have been kept in the pentatonic idiom. The songs appear in approximate order of difficulty. Reproducible PDFs.

Folk songs have long been recognized as ideal tools for the teaching of sight-singing. All the rough edges have been worn off by generation after generation passing these songs on to their children. Starting with the most basic interval (the minor third: so-mi), Dr. Sanders has organized this collection of 170 folk songs into a gradual progression from songs containing only those two notes through full pentatonic songs by the end of Volume One following the Kodaly sequence. Volume Two adds fa, then ti, progressing to full diatonic songs. Because singers start learning to read music at different ages, this series is available in two editions: one with song titles and lyrics for your younger students, and one with just the music, recommended for older students from middle school on up. Reproducible PDFs.

Following the Kodály sequence, Poor Richard’s Rounds begins with just Sol and Mi and progresses to full pentatonic by the end of Volume 1. Volume 2 adds Fa and Ti leading to full diatonic, featuring Major, Minor and modal rounds. Based on the wit and wisdom of Ben Franklin’s “Poor Richard’s Almanack.”

Reproducible PDFs.

200 Progressive Pentatonic Exercises follows the sequence of the Kodaly approach to sight-singing. Beginning with Sol-Mi, students gradually build their sightreading skills to include the complete pentatonic scale. The rhythmic content progresses similarly, beginning with the quarter note, and gradually adding additional note values. This volume also includes exercises centered on La (for minor mode practice), as well as other modal centers. A number of the exercises in this volume may be sung together as partner songs, and some as rounds, offering an effective means for developing vocal independence. 175 Progressive Diatonic Exercises completes the progression by systematically adding Fa and Ti. Reproducible PDFs.