🎶 Week 3: Text + Music = Expression
This week you’ll refine artistry: phrasing, dynamics, resonance, and diction—then record a performance video for our Oct 1 Showcase Stream.
đź“… Daily Assignments
Day 15 – Onsets, Legato, Release
Sing each phrase on a neutral syllable, then add text.
Focus on clean onsets (no “h” or hard attacks) and smooth releases.
Prompt: Which phrase needed the most work on onset/release?
đź“Ś Cohort Check: Post your opening phrase. Peers: give one compliment + one suggestion.
Day 16 – Vowel Core & Resonance
Sustain key vowels in the piece (like the [e] in “crudele”) on pitch.
Practice a light messa di voce on long notes.
Prompt: Which vowel was hardest to keep resonant?
đź“Ś Cohort Check: Post one sustained vowel clip. Peers comment: did the core stay consistent?
Day 17 – Derrick Goff Livestream (Wed, Sept 24, 11:00 AM PT)
Attend the livestream; post questions in advance or ask live.
After, apply one of Derrick’s tips in practice.
Prompt: Which insight from Derrick changed your approach most?
📌 Cohort Check: Share your “Derrick takeaway” in the thread and reply to someone with a similar or contrasting insight.
Day 18 – Phrasing & Rubato
Revisit your breath map. Try phrasing with subtle rubato for expressiveness.
Prompt: Where did rubato make the phrase more emotional?
đź“Ś Cohort Check: Post a phrase with rubato. Peers: comment if it enhanced or distracted.
Day 19 – Articulation & Consonants
Focus on clean Italian consonants—especially doubled ones (like crudele).
Keep legato intact while articulating clearly.
Prompt: Which consonant cluster challenged your legato?
đź“Ś Cohort Check: Start a Consonant Relay with a tough cluster and tag someone to imitate it.
Day 20 – Polished Run-Through
Sing the full piece once on a neutral syllable, then with text.
Add musical detail: dynamics, phrasing, style.
Prompt: What one interpretive choice best communicates your view of the piece?
📌 Cohort Check: Post a short clip. Peers describe the “character” of your interpretation in one word.
Day 21 – Performance Video & Reflection
Record your full performance and post it in the forum by Sept 30 for showcase eligibility.
Write 2–3 bullet points on your interpretive choices.
Prompt: What has changed most from Week 1 to now—text comfort, breath, or artistry?
đź“Ś Cohort Check: Watch two peer videos and offer specific feedback: one strength + one growth point.
🎠Fun Along the Way (Cohort Edition)
Breath Map Swap: Try a peer’s breath plan, report back which felt best.
Two Voices Challenge: Post one phrase sung “tender,” one “defiant.” Cohort votes which matches the text better.
Feedback Chain: After posting your clip, tag two peers for comments—and return the favor.
Cohort Vote: Vote as a group on the strongest musical arc in the longest phrase.
🎥 Performance & Showcase
Final Videos Due: Sept 30 (end of day, PT).
Showcase Livestream: Oct 1 — performances featured, reflections shared, and winning cohort announced for bragging rights!
đź“š A Scholarly Lens
“In the teaching of Italian art song, the fusion of legato line with expressive text is paramount. Even the simplest melody must be carried by breath, vowel integrity, and clarity of diction, so that the singer’s artistry transforms simplicity into poignancy.”
— Miller, Richard. Solutions for Singers: Tools for Performers and Teachers. Oxford University Press, 2004.
✨ By the end of Week 3 you will:
Deliver a polished performance with clean onsets, stable vowels, and expressive phrasing
Shape phrases with breath and rubato
Balance consonant clarity with Italian legato
Post a video performance and give peer feedback
Celebrate in the Oct 1 showcase 🎉