What is Solfege?

Solfege is a method of teaching Western music that covers pitch recognition, sight reading, and sight singing. In a narrower sense, it means sight-singing — reading sheet music and singing it at the correct pitch using sol-fa syllables (do, re, mi...).

Sol-fa syllables originate from a Latin hymn (Ut queant laxis) and are used today to express scale degrees or note names. See Types of Solfege for the different systems.

History and Etymology

In medieval Europe, music formed one of the four disciplines of the quadrivium alongside arithmetic, geometry, and astronomy, and was considered one of the most noble courses of study. Music was regarded not merely as an art, but as an academic discipline with a rigorous theoretical system.

The word "solfège" derives from the Italian "solfeggi," which is composed of the note names sol and fa. When it first appeared in France at the end of the 18th century, it referred exclusively to collections of vocal exercises for singers. However, the practice of singing by note names is much older — the term "Ars solfandi" (the art of solmization) was already in use in the 14th century. The concept spread across countries in different forms: "solfeggio" in Italy, "solfège" in France, and "tonic sol-fa" in England.

The Essence of Solfege — Vocal Training

From the 19th to the 20th century, the definition of solfege gradually broadened. It began as "a collection of exercises for singing notes at the correct pitch," then evolved into "a method of musical fundamentals including progressive exercises in sight-reading and interval singing," and further into "vocal and sight-reading training to develop one's sense of pitch." What has remained consistent across the ages is that solfege is, first and foremost, a discipline rooted in singing.

Solfege Education Today

For decades, solfege education had become overly theoretical, losing its connection to actual music. In the early 20th century, with Bartók and Kodály as pioneers, experiential and active approaches to solfege education began to spread. Modern solfege education is built on three core principles:

• Practice before theory — experience music first, then derive theory from that experience
• Use the works of great composers as teaching material — learn through real music to develop understanding and performance skills
• Encourage active participation by learners — not passively receiving, but singing, playing, and creating for themselves

Marcel Landowski, a French composer who championed music education reform, wrote: "Children speak correctly even before they can read or write. The same is true for music. Before learning the rules of music, one must first learn to love it." — This idea forms the foundation of modern solfege education.

Singalong Solfege — An App Built on These Three Principles

Singalong Solfege is built on these modern principles of solfege education.

• Practice before theory — start singing along with the guide vocal right away, no theoretical knowledge required
• Use the works of great composers as teaching material — features Ladukhin exercises plus a wide range of Lieder and classical vocal works
• Active participation by the learner — not just listening, but an app centered on singing for yourself

Above all, we believe in the joy of music. The songs included in the app are selected not only for their educational value, but for their beauty and musical interest.