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How to Sing & Turn Music Sheets With One Hand

If you plan to sing a lengthy vocal piece, you might want to consider using sheet music during your performance as a memory aid. Some singers, however, get tripped up by trying to turn the pages of their music as they sing. While this may seem like a simple task, you can lose your place in the song if you don't invest some time preparing for this type of multi-tasking activity.

Instructions

    • 1

      Prepare yourself. If you're going to be singing and turning sheet music, you should be very familiar with the sheet music first. Practice to the extent of virtually having your vocal memorized. Only use the music sheets as reference points, as you would a few note cards when making a speech.

    • 2

      Prepare your music. Fold the bottom right corner of each sheet upward and inward (like a small triangle). This will cause the corner to stick out a little, which makes it easier to grasp when you are turning pages. Highlight certain sections or add notes as necessary to remind yourself of specific directions within the song.

    • 3

      Place your music on a stand that is a little higher than waist level. The exact height is a personal decision based on what is comfortable for you in terms of reading and turning the music.

    • 4

      Sing the music and reach out for the corner of each page a few measures before its time to turn to the next page. This way you can turn quickly and continue singing without missing a beat.

    • 5

      Glance at the music pages as infrequently as possible while you sing. If you're staring at your music, you won't be able to convey a personal flair or passion for the song.

Singing

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