NOTE: This question is not the same as a similar question that we’re going to publish in the Q&A category “Developing Your Ear”. In that category we’ll put the question, “Can I keep using solfege syllables?” with the answer that any system is fine at first but here’s why you’ll switch to tonal numbers, etc. But the current post below (to be published in “Creating a New Music Practice”) is purely about why we use tonal numbers, with no request on the part of the student to continue using solfege.
Student’s question:
Why does IFR use tonal numbers instead of solfege syllables? My understanding is that the solfege system with “movable Do” would accomplish the same thing, and it would be easier to sing since all of the names have just one syllable. Why does IFR prefer numbers over the solfege syllables?
Some ideas to think about:
Great question! You are right that solfege syllables could also be used to name the scale degrees as long as you’re using movable Do (meaning that Do is always note 1 of the key, and not a fixed note like “C”). In the beginning of your learning, the most important thing is just to be able to talk about the sounds relative to the key of the music, because this is how our ear naturally hears and appreciates music.
But the tonal numbers are a much better system for visualizing the relationships between the notes. For example, most musicians will have to stop and think for a moment to visualize the number of scale degrees between Fa and Ti. But any child can instantly picture the distance from 4 to 7. This efficiency gets multiplied by a thousand when you start working with chords and chord progressions. Once the complexity goes beyond a certain level, it just becomes impossible to talk about harmonic relationships using solfege syllables.
The solfege system was designed primarily for choir directors and singers, and it has many advantages for this purpose. But as improvisers, our needs are very different. What we need is a crystal clear vision of the musical landscape that makes it easy to picture all of the different relationships between the notes. And tonal numbers are just a much better system for this purpose.
So the answer to your question of why we use tonal numbers vs. solfege is because IFR is a new learning system that is 100% optimized for improvisers. Solfege is a beautiful system that you can continue singing as much as you like. But whenever you’re in your IFR practice, I would encourage you to do all of your musical thinking (and singing) in tonal numbers. Thanks for the great question!
