An interval is one note, plus the next note—two notes that are a specific distance apart.  That’s it.  Nothing more complicated than that. How to sing intervals competently is one of the most fundamental skills used by professional singers because they provide a framework for understanding and reproducing music accurately (e.g., you can sing the hook or riff or melody on a song). If you don’t know what a minor 2^nd or a major 3^rd is, you should learn to sing AND identify them in music.  At our studio we spend a lot of time in fun improvisational exercises (no music reading ability required) that help students understand how to sing intervals and to find them.  To supercharge your musical journey intervals are important—here are a few more reasons why.

1. Pitch Accuracy: Singing involves producing specific pitches accurately. Intervals help singers determine the distance between two notes, allowing them to reproduce the correct pitch intervals within a melody. By using fun exercises (it doesn’t have to be hard work), singers can develop better pitch control and accuracy using intervals.
2. Melodic Understanding: Intervals form the building blocks of melodies, riffs, and hooks. By recognizing and understanding intervals, singers can comprehend the melodic structure of a song more effectively. This understanding enables them to anticipate the direction and shape of a melody, making it easier to memorize and perform.
3. Harmonic Awareness: Intervals also play a crucial role in harmonies. Singers need to be aware of the intervals within chords and how they relate to the melody. Understanding the harmonic intervals helps singers blend with other vocalists or instrumentalists, creating spellbinding performances.
4. Transposition: Intervals are essential for transposing music into different keys—an essential skill for the singer.  You need to change keys to get your best sound on occasion. When a singer needs to perform a song in a higher or lower key, knowledge of intervals helps them navigate the pitch changes accurately. Additionally, intervals are crucial for sight-singing, as they enable singers to read and interpret sheet music more efficiently—if they want to, in our studio, most singers don’t sight sing, and they don’t need to.
5. Vocal Training and Technique: Intervals are often used in vocal exercises and training regimens. Singers practice various interval patterns to improve their vocal range, flexibility, and agility. These exercises help strengthen the muscles involved in singing and develop better control over pitch and intonation.

Overall, intervals serve as a foundational tool for singers to develop their musical ear, improve pitch accuracy, understand melodies and harmonies, and enhance their overall vocal technique and performance skills.  If you get a handle on intervals, you have the cheat codes for singing like a pro!

Our voice program helps singers make the most gains in the shortest among of time. We offer private singing lessons, small group singing classes, and short-term specialty classes. We can also assess your singing using objective tools to give you feedback. Contact us for a free voice consultation with our Berklee College of Music-educated instructor and Master Certified Voice Coach, Jeff Moore, to see if Peak Music is a good fit for you. Our students come from all over New York’s Capital District including Latham, Albany, Schenectady, Troy, Clifton Park, Cohoes, Watervliet, Niskayuna, Waterford, and surrounding communities.