Tips for singers
Do you also dream of being an exceptional singer and wowing your audience? Are you wondering how to best take care of and develop your singing voice? Or do you fantasize about founding an a cappella group or joining a choir - or how to become an even stronger member of the ensemble you’re already in?
Here are some best practices that might inspire you …
8 good habits that will make you a better singer
VOCAL HEALTH
Habit 1 - Take care of your body
As a singer, your body is your instrument. Taking good care of it is essential in order to maintain a healthy and strong voice. Here are some things that can help keep your voice in great shape:
Stay active. Physical exercise can help strengthen your lungs and support muscles, which means you can sustain notes longer, sing louder, and better control your tone.
Get enough sleep. Healthy adults need between 7 and 9 hours, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Being fully rested means that you can better concentrate and use your muscles optimally. Also, you need your full strength to support your voice and sound great both on and off stage.
Stay warm. Bring a sweater. Especially in the cold winter months where it is so easy to catch a cold. Besides from the obvious discomfort, a sore throat can make it practically impossible to practice or perform. If you should be so unlucky to catch a bacterial infection or virus, the best thing you can do is wait. Be patient and take it easy. Cancel unnecessary appointments and stay home. Speak and sing as little as possible and try and avoid coughing too much, as it puts strain on the vocal cords. Drinking tea with honey, lemon, and ginger can be soothing and help the immune system on its way. If your cold hasn’t gone away after a week, call your doctor.
Drink plenty of water. Carry a bottle with you and refill it often. Staying hydrated helps your brain function properly, lubricates your joints, prevents your body from overheating, and stabilizes your mood, according to studies published by Medical News Today. Also, it helps clear your throat from phlegm when you’re singing.
Listen to your body. Singing should never hurt. If it does, you are doing something wrong. When your throat feels tight or dry, try shifting your attention to other parts of your body. Stretch your torso. Roll your neck. Yawn. Concentrate on breathing deeply and notice how your rib cage expands and contracts. Now, breathe in and activate your support muscles by slowly and gradually exhaling on “sss” while pulling your belly button towards the spine. Try and keep the rib cage expanded as much as possible. Relax your throat. Once you’re out of air, relax your muscles, and feel how the air enters your longues automatically. Repeat this when singing. It is also a great idea to do start any practice with warm-ups. Try out Ørehænger’s warm-up routine here.
Habit 2: Sing daily
Like any other thing we do regularly, vocalizing just a little bit (or a lot) every day will make us better singers. Whether it’s in the shower, riding your bike to work, during classes at school, with friends around a bonfire, or at choir practice, working that instrument regularly will improve your skill level and performance. Here are some things you can try out:
Train for 10 minutes. Carve out just 1/6 of an hour each day where you sing some scales, practice a challenging high note, or run through a song a couple of times. Do it right after a shower when your body is relaxed and warm. Or right after you come home from school or work and still have some energy. Don’t let anyone disturb you. Set an alarm and be as present as you can with the task at hand. You will most likely experience how singing gets easier and more fun every day. And don’t forget: 90% of the work is simply showing up.
Set an intention. What would be fun to be able to do? Hitting that low note? Singing more dynamically? Doing a crazy, fast run? Sustaining a beautiful, long note with a sweet vibrato at the end? Pick just one or two intensions for the day and work on them.
Write your own songs. There is almost nothing that feels better than singing your own music. And the benefit is that is fits your voice perfectly. If you have never tried it before, find inspiration in your favorite songs by others. Then go hunt for little text nuggets you have written down over the years in your diary, in a note book, or in chats with close friends. Record your ideas on your phone and sing them over and over again.
Record yourself. Use your phone or a program on your computer to get yourself “on tape”. It can be a full song, a chorus, or just a tiny segment, like a run or a specific note. Listen back to it. What do you hear? Are you happy with it? Can it be better? If yes, how? Be patient and kind to yourself and treat yourself like you would treat a close friend.
MUSIC CLASSES
Habit 3: Find a voice teacher
Studying with a great vocal instructor can be a real game changer. Whether you are looking to improve your technique, mastering a certain musical style, or connecting to your song on a more emotional level, a good teacher will be able to provide you with the feedback you need in order to grow. Here are some things you could consider when looking for a teacher:
Set goals. There are all kinds of teachers out there. Some know all about the human anatomy. Some are experts on stage performance. Others can teach you about musical interpretation, phrasing, or stylizing. Be as conscious as you can about what it is you would like to learn. This will make it easier to search for a teacher online.
Ask for recommendations. Getting a referral is always a good idea. Ask you friends and family if they know anyone great. Many voice teacher also offer a free trial lesson which gives both them and you a chance to see if there is chemistry.
Check out free programs. Many music conservatories and music teacher programs are looking for voice students who are up for free trial lessons. If you don’t mind taking classes from a brand-new educator and perhaps even join them at their final teachers’ exams, check online if there are any possibilities like that in your area.
Habit 4: Become a great listener
Understanding the theory behind music can make it so much more interesting and meaningful to learn. We all start out by imitating the sounds of the people around us, It is a very effective and meaningful way to learn how to make speak, sing, and communicate - and a technique that we can utilize throughout our lives. But adding a cognitive layer onto that can really elevate your musicianship and provide you with a new level of appreciation for the art of sound. Here are some things you can consider trying out:
Sign up for ear training. Learn about all the different notes, intervals, chords, scales, melodies, beats, and bass lines, and use them in your own songs. Most music schools offer weekly classes. It can be very motivating to study in a group and practice with others. But there are also great apps, websites, and YouTube channels you can check out. The Perfect Ear app is just one of many choices.
Learn an instrument. It’s always more fun to sing with accompaniment. If you don’t already play one, maybe today is a good day to get started. Piano, guitar, or even the ukulele are good choices for singers. Look for a teacher or class somewhere in your area. Or check out YouTube or your app store. There are many, cool digital options out there, like Youcisian or Simply Piano by Joytunes.
Habit 5: Learn how to sight read
Being able to read music off the page is really beneficial, especially if you sing in a choir or a band where the music is written down. If you are a songwriter, being able to notate the melody is also going to make it so much easier to remember and to pass on to others, say your choir or band. Many vocalists, also professionals, wished they had learned how to sight read, but never get around to it. But that’s not you, right? Just make it fun and easy for yourself.
Sing to your phone. The Ella sight singing app is one of many apps that will help you translate the dots on the paper to sound. Spend a few moments practicing on the train or before you go to sleep. It’s fun, because you actually get to sing into your phone and get feedback right away.
Learn music theory on YouTube. Understanding chord progressions, rhythm, form, and all the other components of music will also make life so much more fun and easy for you. YouTube has a bunch of informative and entertaining videos on the topic. Adam Neely is just one of many brilliant YouTubers you can check out.
SINGING WITH OTHERS
Habit 6: Check out other singers
Listening to other great vocalists can be super inspiring (especially if we manage to not get down on ourselves about our own inabilities). Here are some ideas for how to get new vocal input:
Imitate your favorite singer. Is it Harry Styles? Maybe Björk? Or Joni Mitchell? Regardless of who gets you vocally excited, go crank up the volume of your speakers or headphones and sing along like there is no day tomorrow. Forget all about the neighbors. And never mind what you think you can do and can’t do with your voice. Just go for it! You will likely realize that you are capable of crazy impressive things as long as you are feeling the music, the energy level is high, and you don’t overthink the process.
Go to a concert. Bring a friend and discuss what you really enjoyed about the singer’s performance. If you get the chance, try to meet them after the show. Pay them a compliment. Or ask them questions about how they train their voice or stage performance. Write down your favorite tricks afterwards or record them on your phone, so you don’t forget.
Habit 7: Find a study partner
Practicing with others makes it so much more fun. Plus you get to both give and receive constructive criticism. Asking someone who is as good of a singer as you (or even better) can speed up your learning process by many times. If you play an instrument, you can also accompany each other or even co-write a new song.
Take turns choosing exercises. Meet with your study partner once a week (or as often as it makes sense in your lives). Set vocal goals together and alternate between being in charge and taking directions. You can choose to have one person guide the whole session, or you can go back and forth with each exercise or song. Come prepared so that don’t waste each other’s time. As you offer feedback, be kind and constructive. And don’t forget to have fun!
Buy a karaoke kit. It can be a program on your computer or a game that you connect to your TV. No need to get a fancy one, unless you like that sort of thing. Just sing through your favorite songs and wow that imaginary audience in your bedroom or living room. You could even invite friends over for a good, old-fashioned karaoke party. If you’re ready for it, go make new friends in your local karaoke bar and give a song or two.
Record a duet. The internet offers a bunch of opportunities to sing and record with strangers. For instance, you can record a duet using the Smule app and share it with the world through social media.
Prepare a show. Start making plans for a public performance. Where will it be? Which songs will you sing? Who will accompany you. Sing through the repertoire together at home or in your rehearsal space, but behave like it’s “for real”. Offer each other constructive criticism on both the singing and the general performance. Maybe even discuss how you will enter and leave the room and what you will say on stage. If you are a bit shy, consider doing an informal test concert for your family and close friends. Or just go ahead and make plans for a performance at your local concert venue. You can do it!
Habit 8: Join a choir or vocal group
Singing with a group of vocalists can be truly magical! The feeling of becoming one with everyone and almost disappearing into those thick vocal harmonies can make you almost high.
Sign up for a group today. Why wait? Go online today and start looking for a group that really appeals to you. Email them and ask if they have auditions and how to enroll. Go to their next concert. Talk to the members and the leader. Find out what is expected of you.
Form your own ensemble. You may have ideas for a specific style of music you would like to perform. Or you may know one or more singers that you admire and would like to join forces with. Well, what are you waiting for? Get them on the phone - today! Set up a time where you can discuss mutual goals and start planning for your first rehearsal. And go for it!
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