Final answer:
Solfège is a method for teaching pitch and sight-singing with two main systems: movable do, which changes the tonic depending on the key, and fixed do, where 'Do' is always the pitch C. La minor is a technique in movable do where 'La' is the tonic in minor keys.
Step-by-step explanation:
Solfège Systems: Movable Do, Fixed Do, and La Minor
Solfège is a musical education method used to teach pitch and sight-singing. There are two primary solfège systems: movable do and fixed do. In the movable do system, the note 'Do' represents the tonic of whatever key the music is in, making it a relative system. This means that, in the key of C major, 'Do' would be C, but in the key of G major, 'Do' would become G. The benefit of this system is that it helps students to understand and feel the relationships between the notes in a scale, no matter what key they are in.
On the other hand, the fixed do system assigns the note 'Do' to the pitch C always, regardless of the key signature. Here, Do is always C, Re is always D, Mi is always E, and so on. This system is akin to the absolute letter-naming system used in English-speaking countries and is particularly useful for learning fixed pitches and absolute pitch recognition.
When dealing with minor keys in solfège, one common approach is the La minor system, particularly in the context of movable do. In La minor, the note 'La' becomes the tonic of the minor key. Hence, in A minor, 'La' would be A. This approach keeps the solfège syllables diatonically consistent with the major key while allowing for a distinct recognition of the minor tonality.