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Legato arietta

An original phrase in the style of a classical arietta, in three-four time: three legato arcs, the last one peaking on the octave and returning to the tonic.

ahahahahahahahahah…
One repetition of the pattern. In the app it is transposed to your vocal range and scored note by note.

An original phrase in the style of a classical arietta, sung on “ah” in three-four time. It has three legato arcs. The first rises to the fifth and returns to the root. The second climbs to the major sixth and stops on the second degree, like a question. The third answers it with a climb to the octave and a long root. The app picks a key that fits your range, and you sing it twice.

How to do it

  1. Listen to the piano play the phrase once. Then it plays along with you.
  2. Feel three beats to the bar: a gentle lean on beat one, lighter on two and three.
  3. Sing each arc on one breath. Take a quick, low breath in each short rest.
  4. Let the climb to the octave bloom without an accent, then unwind down.
  5. Hold the final root for the full three beats.

Coach's tip: Each arc on one breath – breathe in the short rests. Sing the top round, without an accent, and carry the last note to its end.

What to watch out for

Each arc lasts about eight seconds at the default tempo, so plan the breath and take it in the rest, not mid-arc. The rests are short; a late breath makes you rush. The long-short pairs get clipped, so give the long note its full length. The top of the last arc is where singers push. Keep it round and easy, not big or heavy. Stop if your throat tightens.

Who it's for

A level 2 melody for singers who know basic scales and arpeggios and want a classical-style line to shape, including choir singers. Use it in the main block after Slow legato up to the sixth. Next, try Cadenza to end an aria, which continues in the same style. It's in no fixed program, but the daily training favors it when you pick Classical & choir.

Practice this exercise

Opens the app in your browser. Free to start, no account needed. Put on headphones first.

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