INTRODUCTORY CHAT ABOUT THE SINGING BIRD. THE title of this work perhaps sufficiently explains its design. The plan, it will be perceived, is quite different from any of the author's former works. The SINGING BIRD is intended especially to render comparatively easy and pleasant the introduction of VOCAL MUSIC as a study, as well as a pastime, in schools, and seminaries, and juvenile classes. By the new arrangement of the Elements, the pupil begins to sing by note, and in pleasing melodies, from the very first lesson, and the Elementary and Song department are so completely interwoven, that the pupil will not soon tire of study, as he reaps at every step an abundant reward for all his application in the pleasant songs that continually greet and cheer him. The difficulty to the beginner, of changing the scale, and singing in different keys, has been kept constantly in mind in the methodical arrangement of the music, so that songs in the keys with three, four, and five flats and sharps, will be found as easy and as simple as in the key of C. The subject of Transposition is explained in a familiar and attrac tive way, and illustrated by new figures and diagrams. The Chromatic Scale, even, is so introduced as to remove some of the greatest obstacles in the way of its general use in schools. The music and poetry generally is new, and of an unusually interesti. and varied character. e Singing Bird has been prepared by special request, and for a scific object, and there is perhaps no work of its class that has received any thing like the amount of care and study that has been bestowed on this. The great variety of exercises in the different keys will enable every teacher to select such as are adapted to the wants of his class, and still follow out the general plan of the work. The practice of introducing new songs by rote may be occasionally resorted to without detriment, though the necessity of this practice is in a great measure avoided by the many plain and simple exercises and tunes for reading. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1852, By WILLIAM B. BRADBURY, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New York. NOTICE TO COMPILERS OF SONG BOOKS.-In procuring the vast amount of new material for this work, as well as in the compilation, arrangement, and composition of the music generally, the Author has spent much time and money. And not the music only, but most of the poetry also, has been purchased by him, and writers liberally paid for their compositions. By the laws of copy-right, this, having been "Entered according to Act of Congress," is his property; and no person can take, (except by his permission), either poetry or music for republication, or for reprint in any shape whatever, without directly infringing upon the Copy-right. It is hoped that this notice will be sufficient. WILLIAM B. BRADBURY. New York, Oct., 1852. Stereotyped by THOMAS В SMIT¤, 216 William Si, A hard Winter Climb the Mountain.. GENERAL INDEX. 16 Hurrah for Holiday..... 91 Intervals of the Scale 32 Invitation to singing.. 76 Keep up a good Heart.. 90 Let us endeavor to show 141 Rouse, ye Sleepers. 39 Shepherd, while thy.. 96 Sleigh-bell Song. 45 Sliding down Hill... 103 Song in Double Measure. 58 Song in Quadruple Measure 97 Songs of Letters... 118 Soon will return 56 Sound, sound the merry.. 93 Spring Life 117 68 Martyn 174 Song of Farewell 176 Melody and Harmony 30 Song of the Reaper.. Day is gone.. 45 Mind your own Business. Dear Father, ere we part.. 175 Minor Scales explained Death of a Scholar. 174 Morning Call... Drink to Spring... 145 Morning in Spring. Enjoy every Hour... 74 Morning Song. Exercises for Vocalization 127 Morning Song 21 The Morning Call. 30 The Neighbor.. 42 The North Wind doth blow 46 The Play-Ground. 25 The rosy Morn blushes.. 28 The School-Bell 75 The Swiss Toy Girl. 53 The Young Traveller 63 There's much good Cheer. 44 This World is not so bad. 38 Thy Works proclaim.. 152 Time flies... 80 'Tis Home where'er the Heart 37 To the Clouds.. 57 Transposition illustrated by 76 35 Try again 106 Uncurbed Tongues.. 60 Walk and sing. 163 Warble for us, Echo sweet 115 Who is a Patriot. 48 Winter.-Sleigh-Bell Song.. THE SINGING BIRD; OR, PROGRESSIVE MUSIC READER. CHAPTER I. PRACTICAL EXERCISES, OR FIRST STEPS IN SINGING BY NOTE. The Scale (as seen above) represents, by characters called the convenience of practice, the following syll Notes, a series of eight musical sounds. To learn to sing these sounds correctly is the first step in the art of reading music. (Practise the scale with the numerals.) Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Si, Do. Pronounced, Do, Ray, Mee, Fah, Sole, Lah, See, Do. The notes, representing the scale, and other musi cises and tunes, are printed or written upon or betw To the different sounds of the scale are often applied, for parallel lines, called a STAFF. POSITION OF THE SCALE. THE SINGING BIRD, OR "The Musical Ladder." It may be changed to any posiScale sometimes begins upon one place, and some- tion upon the staff. There are rules regulating such pon another, of the Staff. In the above, it begins changes, which will be presented in due time. We will e lowest line. It may begin upon any line, or be- content ourselves for the present with the practice of the the lines. It is like a ladder, and is often called scale, and exercises and tunes formed from it. NOTE.-In the above we have added a short line, in order to write the scale still lower. E TEACHER.In the following Exercises the teacher will | This we deem of much importance in teaching the art of reading pitch generally, as indicated by the numeral 1, (supposing music vocally. (In learning to play upon an instrument the case is and signature to be there,) simply saying to the class, "Now different.) After getting some practical idea of what reading music on the lowest (or first) line.” “Now between the first and is-by the preparatory exercises that follow-the pupil will easily nes, &c. By thus frequently changing the position of the understand and appreciate the importance of fixed sounds as indicae beginner learns from the first to regard the intervals in ted by the letters and clefs. "ONE THING AT A TIME," must be the ative position, irrespective of any given place upon the staff. successful teacher's motto. |