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Unit 4 · Calls in songs

Way, haul away

Sing a shanty crew's answer, "Way, haul away", bright, together and short, never a shout, with the crew's other voices and a light trill after. Free, gently.

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What it teaches

Sailors hauled a rope to a shanty: the shantyman sang a line, and the crew answered together. Their answer is a call: "Way, haul away".

The crew's answer. Bright, together, short

Not a shout. A crew works all day

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 lip trill (or a hum), twice.
  2. "Way, haul away": hear it back.
  3. "Way, haul away", with the crew's other voices, then a light trill.

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.

Free tools by Stackapella

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Stackapella teaches you to sing harmony one part at a time, right in your browser.

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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