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Unit 1 · The crew answers

Breathe in the call

Take a low, quiet breath while the shantyman sings, then one breath for each answer, through a long hoist and a whole song sung as the crew. Free to sing.

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More in The crew answers

Breathe in the call

Blow the Man Down hoisted a sail: the long hoist. While the shantyman sang, the crew shifted their hands on the rope and took a breath, low and quiet.

Breathe in the call. Low and quiet, in the shantyman's last words

One breath an answer. No breath halfway through

Pull with your body. Never your throat; stop if anything tightens or hurts

What you sing

  1. Find the first answer's notes: "Way-ay, blow the man down".
  2. Hear the call, then answer. Take your breath in the call's last word.
  3. The second answer now: "Give me some time to blow the man down".

Challenge: Haul Away, Joe

A whole song as the crew: the chorus, then three verses, each answered with "Way, haul away, haul away, Joe".

Breathe in the call. One breath an answer

Pull with your body. Never your throat; stop if anything tightens or hurts

Headphones or a speaker. The calls sound in your rests either way

What you sing

  1. The whole song: the shantyman calls, you answer every time.

Singing safely

As big as you could keep up for the whole song, never shouted: a shout has no pitch, so it can't be scored. Pull with your body, not your throat. Stop if anything tightens or hurts.

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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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