Definition

1. Verb:
   • To sing using solmization syllables: To vocalize musical notes or melodies using a system of syllables (such as do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti) that represent the pitches of a scale, rather than using lyrics or neutral syllables like "la."

Usage

• General Use: The verb "solmizate" is used specifically in the context of music education and vocal training. It describes the act of practicing or performing a melody by assigning specific syllables to each note. This helps in understanding pitch relationships and sight-singing.
• Grammar: It is a regular verb. Its forms are: solmizate (base form), solmizates (third-person singular present), solmizated (past tense and past participle), solmizating (present participle/gerund).

Examples

• Verb:
  • The choir director asked the singers to solmizate the difficult passage before adding the words.
  • As part of their ear training, students must solmizate the melody they just heard.
  • She solmizated the entire scale perfectly during her music theory exam.

Advanced Usage

• "To solmizate a passage": To practice a specific section of music using solmization syllables to master its intervals and rhythm.
  • Before tackling the lyrics, the singer solmizated the chromatic passage to ensure accurate pitch.
• Used in Instructional Contexts: The term is most commonly found in formal music pedagogy.
  • The method book instructs beginners to solmizate every new exercise.

Variants and Related Words

• Solmization (n): The system of using syllables (like do, re, mi) to represent the degrees of a musical scale.
  • The teacher explained the history of solmization.
• Solfege (n): A synonym for solmization; a method of teaching sight-singing.
  • Solfege classes often involve solmizating exercises.

Synonyms

• Sight-sing (using syllables): To sing written music at first sight, typically using a system like solfege.
• Vocalize (in a specific musical sense): To sing exercises or melodies on vowels or syllables, though this is broader than "solmizate."

Related Phrases

• "Sing on solfege syllables": A more common instructional phrase with the same meaning as "solmizate."
  • Please sing this line on solfege syllables.

Verb

1. sing using syllables like `do', `re' and `mi' to represent the tones of the scale
   • The voice teacher showed the students how to solmizate
2. sing by the syllables of solmization
   • solmizate a song before you learn the lyrics