🎶 Week 3: Text + Music = Expression
Now we merge rhythm and text with expressive style. The playful and ambiguous meaning of this aria comes to life through tone color and phrasing.
đź“… Daily Assignments
Day 15 – Onsets, Legato, Release
Practice balanced onsets; avoid “popping” into light syllables.
Keep legato smooth, even through text repetitions.
Prompt: Which phrase required the most care to keep smooth?
đź“Ś Cohort Check: Post a clip of your opening phrase; peers offer one strength + one suggestion.
Day 16 – Vowel Core & Resonance
Focus on clarity of [e] and [i] vowels—bright but not spread.
Practice a small messa di voce on a sustained tone.
Prompt: Which vowel resisted staying resonant?
đź“Ś Cohort Check: Post a sustained vowel phrase; peers describe it in one word.
Day 17 – Derrick Goff Livestream (Wed, Sept 24, 11:00 AM PT)
Attend livestream; post questions in this thread or livestream thread.
Apply one of Derrick’s suggestions directly in practice.
Prompt: Which insight from Derrick shifted your interpretation?
📌 Cohort Check: Share your “Derrick takeaway” and respond to a peer with a similar or contrasting insight.
Day 18 – Phrasing & Rubato
Experiment with rubato to highlight irony or affection in the text.
Prompt: Where did rubato best serve the meaning?
đź“Ś Cohort Check: Post a rubato clip; peers vote: expressive or too free?
Day 19 – Consonant Clarity & Diction
Keep Italian consonants crisp but playful; avoid heaviness that kills charm.
Prompt: Which cluster risked breaking your legato?
đź“Ś Cohort Check: Start a Consonant Relay with a tricky word; tag a peer to imitate.
Day 20 – Full Run-Through
Run the aria once on neutral syllable, once with text. Add stylistic flair: gentle dynamic shifts, teasing articulation.
Prompt: What one choice captured the playful character best?
đź“Ś Cohort Check: Post your clip; peers describe the mood in one word (tender / playful / ironic / coy).
Day 21 – Performance Video & Reflection
Record your full performance and post it by Sept 30 to be eligible for showcase.
Include 2–3 bullet points about your interpretive approach.
Prompt: What changed most for you since Week 1?
đź“Ś Cohort Check: Watch two peer videos; offer one strength + one growth suggestion.
🎠Fun Along the Way (Cohort Edition)
Two Takes Challenge: Post one version “innocent,” one “playful.” Peers vote which feels truer to the text.
Feedback Chains: After posting, tag two peers to give feedback—and return the favor.
Cohort Vote: As a group, vote on who captured the playful irony of Se tu m’ami most vividly.
🎥 Performance & Showcase
Final videos due: Sept 30 (end of day, PT).
Showcase livestream: Oct 1 — selected performances + reflections + cohort winner announcement 🎉
📚 Scholarly Lens (Week 3 – Se tu m’ami)
“In interpreting simple strophic songs, the singer’s artistry lies in subtle variation—tone color, dynamic nuance, and rhythmic inflection—so that repetition becomes revelation rather than redundancy.”
— Miller, Richard. The Structure of Singing: System and Art in Vocal Technique. Schirmer, 1986.
✨ By the end of Week 3 you will:
Perform with smooth onsets/releases and resonant vowels
Shape phrases with subtle rubato and nuance
Balance consonant clarity with playful tone
Post a polished performance video
Join the Oct 1 Showcase and cohort celebration