Style Upgrade Lesson: Inspired by Ariana Grande

Introduction

Welcome to today's style upgrade lesson, inspired by the incredible Ariana Grande. Known for her sweet, girly vocals, she has a goddess-like presence in the pop music scene. Her effortless, buoyant tone allows her to hit any note and master various agility licks and runs.

Objectives

In this lesson, we'll learn two licks:

• The first lick: A bit easier.
• The second lick: More challenging.

These licks can be practiced in your comfortable vocal range using head voice, and later, you can explore belting techniques with a teacher.

First Lick: "Positions"

Let's begin with a lick from her song "Positions." This section leads from middle A into the final chorus.

1. Key: D minor
2. Starting Note: F

The phrase goes:

1, 2, 3 for you.

Structure

• Sections: Two sections with a breath in between.
• Scale: Based on the pentatonic scale.

Practice

Let's try it together:

1, 2, 3, 4 for you.

Breakdown

• We're descending a minor third. Try this for me:

For you. 

Great! Now, let's add the signature double scoop:

For you. Scoop, scoop.

With a loose jaw, keep your mouth open as you sing:

And for you.

Notes Count

• Total Notes: 7 notes in this lick.

Second Half of the First Lick

The second half features a grace note. Here's how it sounds:

• Description: A little tiny extra note that doesn't affect the rhythm but adds to the texture.

Practice the Grace Note

Sing it nice and slowly with me:

Now, if you're struggling to get that grace note in, add a little airflow. A light 'H' will help.

Try it:

Who, who, who?

Tips for Success

• If the grace note feels too subtle, increase the airflow.
• Messy beginnings are okay as you refine your technique!

Completing the Lick

Let's put both halves together:

1, 2, 3, 4. For you.

Group Practice

Now let's try it together:

1, 2, 3, 4. For you. 

Discussion

• Question: Alicia, which half did you find more difficult, first or second?
• Response: The second half, getting that little grace note in.

Encouragement to practice slowly:

A lot of people like to speed up really early, but that can lead to trouble. 

Let's practice the first half and finish strong:

You who?

Final Practice

To wrap up, let's perform it all together one more time, slightly slower than the full tempo:

Key: D minor, Starting Note: F
1, 2, 3. For you.

Conclusion

You're getting there! Patience is key, and remember, this is a fantastic lick from Ariana Grande. Keep practicing!