Nerina Poltronieri’s Solfeggio Secondo Corso is more than just a dusty music manual; it is a foundational pillar of Italian music pedagogy that has shaped generations of conservatory students. As the "Second Course" in her renowned series, this volume acts as a bridge, taking students from basic rhythmic literacy to the sophisticated "Setticlavio" (the system of seven clefs) used by professional conductors and performers. Here is what makes the Secondo Corso an enduring piece of musical history: 1. The Gateway to the "Setticlavio" While the first course introduces the basics, the Secondo Corso is famous for its intensive focus on clef changes Clef Mastery
: It demands that students read fluently in various clefs beyond Treble and Bass, including Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Contralto, and Tenor. Mental Agility
: Transitioning between these clefs mid-exercise is designed to build a high level of mental flexibility, preparing musicians to transpose on the fly. 2. Progressive Complexity
The book is structured around "Esercizi Progressivi" (Progressive Exercises). Unlike modern methods that may prioritize fun over rigour, Poltronieri’s method is notoriously systematic. Spoken vs. Sung : It balances Solfeggi Parlati (spoken rhythm and pitch naming) with Solfeggi Cantati
(singing the pitches), ensuring that the student develops both a rhythmic "inner clock" and an accurate "inner ear". Mathematical Precision
: The rhythms in the second course often introduce complex syncopations and tuplets that require a near-mathematical precision to execute. 3. A Legacy of Excellence Nerina Poltronieri was a titular teacher at the prestigious Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome
. Her books became the standard because they don't just teach you to read music—they teach you to Universal Language
: Although written in Italian, the syllables "Do, Re, Mi..." used in the book follow the "Fixed Do" system common in Europe and Russia, which focuses on absolute pitch recognition. poltronieri solfeggio secondo corso pdf
by L. V.
Elena, a 15-year-old violin student at the “Luigi Cherubini” conservatory in Florence, had a problem. Her sight-singing was terrible. Every Tuesday, Maestro Ferri would point his baton at her and say, “Signorina, ancora. Poltronieri — secondo corso — page 24.”
And every Tuesday, Elena would stumble over the dotted rhythms, blush, and wish the floor would swallow her whole.
She had lost her copy of Poltronieri’s Solfeggi per lo Studio del Ritmo e della Lettura Cantata — Secondo Corso months ago. The local music shop said it was out of print. Online, she found only dead links and sketchy “free PDF” websites that asked for her credit card.
One rainy evening, desperate for the next day’s lesson, she typed into a search engine:
“poltronieri solfeggio secondo corso pdf download”
The first result was a file-sharing site with a familiar green button. Elena’s finger hovered over the mouse. Then she noticed the fine print: “Uploaded by user ‘spartiti_fantasma’ — contains pages 1–35 only. Missing pages 36–70.”
She would get half the book, illegally, and still fail the exam. Nerina Poltronieri’s Solfeggio Secondo Corso is more than
Disappointed but stubborn, Elena decided to try something old-fashioned. She called the conservatory library.
“Do you have Poltronieri, Secondo Corso?” she asked.
“We have two copies — one is reference only, the other can be checked out for 3 days,” said the librarian, Signora Bianchi. “But it’s on reserve for the preparatory class. However… we do have a scanner.”
The next morning, Elena went to the library. With Signora Bianchi’s permission, she scanned the 70 pages of the Secondo Corso — legally, for personal study — and saved them as a PDF on her USB drive. The librarian even helped her add bookmarks for each exercise.
That night, Elena practiced page 24 until she could sing the dotted rhythms in her sleep. Then pages 25, 26, all the way to 70.
The following Tuesday, Maestro Ferri pointed at her. “Page 24, again.”
Elena took a breath and sang it perfectly. Then she added, “Maestro, may I try page 45? The syncopated one?” Who is it for
The class went silent. The Maestro smiled — a rare event.
“You found the book?”
“I found a way,” she said, tapping her music bag. “Legally.”
From that day on, Elena helped younger students do the same: borrow, scan one copy for personal use, and return the original. No pirated PDFs, no missing pages, no guilt.
And she never failed another solfeggio again.
Solfeggio, a teaching method used in music education, particularly focuses on ear training and sight-reading skills. It's an essential part of a musician's training, helping them to recognize intervals, chords, and rhythms by ear and to read music fluently. Among the various resources and methods available for solfeggio training, the work by Poltronieri stands out, especially for those seeking structured lessons.