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Unit 4 · Catch breaths

The quick breath

Shorten the note before, drop the jaw and let the air in silently, then catch a breath in half a beat and come back in on time. Free, with the guide first.

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What it teaches

The breath comes out of the last note, not the next one: shorten the note before, drop the jaw, and let the air in through the mouth, silently.

Shorten the note before. Give it up half a beat early

Drop the jaw. The air comes in by itself

Silently. A noisy gasp usually means a tight throat

What you sing

  1. Easy and medium-soft; stop if you feel dizzy, wheezy or tight. With the guide: four short phrases, half a beat between them to breathe.
  2. On your own now, over the drone. Catch each breath in the half beat, and come back in on time.

Singing safely

Don't lock your stomach. Stop if you feel dizzy, wheezy or tight, and sit for long holds. With asthma, another lung or heart condition, or if pregnant, keep holds short and easy. Skip it when hoarse or ill.

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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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