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Unit 3 · Short holds, and letting go

Lighter higher

Learn where today's top is: when a note won't stay bright and easy, let it go lighter or flip into a "hoo". A flip is fine. Free, in short, easy steps.

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More in Short holds, and letting go

Lighter higher

When a note won't stay bright and easy, let it go lighter, or let it flip. That's your voice telling you where today's top is.

The call. "hey", in the middle

Higher, light. "hoo", never the call word up there

Stop if it hurts. Rest if anything tightens, scratches, tickles or hurts. Skip today if you're hoarse or tired.

What you sing

  1. Warm up light first: a gentle "hoo", twice.
  2. "Hey", then "hoo" higher: hear them.
  3. A call, then a light "hoo" higher, three times. A flip on the "hoo" is fine.

Challenge: Holds and letting go

Two short holds, then the light voice above, which this time ends the lesson.

Then and now. Lesson 1's call

Holds, then light. The last note is the light one

Stop if it hurts. Rest if anything tightens, scratches, tickles or hurts. Skip today if you're hoarse or tired.

What you sing

  1. Warm up light first: a gentle "hoo", twice.
  2. Lesson 1's call.
  3. A held "hey": hear it.
  4. "Hey" and "yeah" held, each with its light "hoo" above.

Singing safely

Call it the way you'd call a friend across a room: speaking volume, middle notes, short sounds. If a note won't stay bright and easy, let it go lighter or flip, and stop if anything tightens, scratches or hurts.

Belt for no more than 10 minutes a day.

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Stackapella recording the alto part of Amazing Grace: each note is a bar with its name, and the one being sung says A little low, go up. Stackapella recording the alto part of Amazing Grace: each note is a bar with its name, and the one being sung says A little low, go up. Stackapella recording the alto part of Amazing Grace: each note is a bar with its name, and the one being sung says A little low, go up. Stackapella recording the alto part of Amazing Grace: each note is a bar with its name, and the one being sung says A little low, go up.
  • A guide sings your partHear your line over the others, slow it down, then take your turn.
  • Your notes light upEach note shows where you landed, and a hint when to go up or down.
  • Record every part yourselfStack your takes in time until you're the whole choir.
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