Repeat 3 notes

How to do it

1. Listen to the three piano notes and picture their shape: up-up, down-up, and so on.
2. Sing them back on 'lah' at the piano's tempo, one clean note each.
3. Once you've sung, the targets appear on the roll; check the shape first, the exact pitches second.
4. Move on to the next repetition without dwelling on a miss.
5. Six repetitions; note whether the middle or the last note is your weak spot.

Coach's tip: Remember the shape (up/down), not the individual notes.

What to watch out for

The typical error is a correct first note followed by a shape that's right but compressed: your leaps are smaller than the piano's. Exaggerate the direction slightly. Another mistake is fixating on individual pitches and forgetting the third note entirely; remember contour first, then pitch. Don't restart mid-phrase; sing it through and read the roll. If your accuracy drops below half, go back to Repeat the interval for a few rounds. No vocal strain is involved.

Who it's for

For beginners with some pitch control and for anyone who learns songs by ear. Do it in the first part of a session, before agility or belting, when concentration is fresh. Pair it with Repeat the interval before and Repeat 5 notes after, once three notes feel easy. It belongs to the Ear program.

Part of programs: Ear

Related exercises

• Repeat the interval ●●○Two notes – repeat both.
• Repeat the chord (broken) ●●○A random major or minor triad. Recognize it and repeat it.
• Repeat the note ●○○You hear one note and repeat it. The note is revealed only after your answer.
• Repeat 5 notes ●●●Five random notes from the scale.