The method employs many songs composed for it, organized in a learning sequence. These songs employ a two-syllable system which assigns two syllables, most typically "da" and "di" (dee) to notes where minor thirds occur in the scale: 8 Da ..........6 di - di ..........................5 Da ....................................3 di - di ...................................................2 Da .............................................................................1 Da ..............................................................7 di - di Two hand signs can be used with the two syllables. The hand signs are much simpler than those used in the Kodály method. 'Da' is wrist-horizontal, and the minor third below, 'di', is wrist-down, with the forearm moved up and down for the different minor third levels. The parent or teacher can use the hand signs to reinforce what the syllables are teaching about pitch relationships. A video for children, "Up and Down", would also help the adult learn how to work with children using hand signs.
The notes of the scale which are strong orientation notes are 'Da', while the auxiliary notes are 'di'. The 'di' notes, being harder to tune, are sung with the 'ee' vowel, which is the most effective vowel for focusing pitch.
Da notes are always white notes, such as half notes, called "long". Di notes are always black notes or quarter notes, called "short". Thus, this last example could also be sung: 8 Long .............6 short-short .....................................5 Long .................................................3 short-short ........................................................................2 Long ..............................................................................................................1 Long ....................................................................................7 short-short 8 White .............6 black-black ......................................5 White ....................................................3 black-black ............................................................................2 White ...................................................................................................................1 White ...........................................................................................7 black-black Falling minor thirds are typical of 'Hi-lo songs'. The 'Hi-lo' syllables group the minor thirds of the scale just as the 'Da-di' syllables do, but without the white-black visual aid for the syllables. 'Hi-lo' songs help tune the scale through the falling minor third, which is the easiest interval to sing: 8 Hi ........6 lo ..............5 Hi .......................3 lo ..............................2 Hi .................................................1 Hi .......................................7 lo
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