Tips for Beginner Vocalists

If you are starting vocal lessons or a vocal practice, here are some quick tips to send you on your way to success.

• Find a good vocal coach. Once you find a vocal coach you are interested in working with, take some time to check out their background or talk with some of their students. It may be possible to hurt your voice if you are taught incorrect vocal methods, which is why an experienced and qualified vocal coach is extremely important. One-on-one vocal coaching will help you to progress quickly and fix any mistakes before they become habits. Singing should never hurt or strain your voice. A good vocal coach will teach you to sing in a way that feels freer and easier than you may have imagined.
• Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Every accomplished singer or musician has been through years of practice and failure before reaching any level of success.  In singing, as you begin to expand your range and connect your high and low registers, your voice may croak or wobble at first, but this is perfectly normal. Trust that your teacher knows how to bring out your voice, and practice the methods taught to achieve full vocal potential.
• Make a habit of warm-ups and singing exercises. Vocal warm-ups, such as lip trills, keep your voice and throat healthy and help to relax the muscles in your face and throat.  You can also do stretching/relaxation exercises for your face and body before you practice. Follow up the warm-ups with singing exercises such as scales, humming, or working with breath before moving on to the songs you are learning.
• Consider your diet. It is generally advised to drink plenty of water before singing, but not water that is too cold. Drink room temperature water, and don’t guzzle it – sip it slowly throughout the day. Staying hydrated lubricates the vocal cords. Avoid caffeine and dairy products before singing.
• Breathe! Vocalists must learn to breathe from the abdomen. To do this, you need to practice relaxing the abdomen muscles.  There are many breathing exercises specifically created for vocalists.  Talk with your teacher or do some research to find the breathing exercises that work best for you, and add this to your daily vocal practice.
• Speak, don’t strain. If you are singing with proper technique, you should be singing easily and comfortably. Don’t create tension by straining or grabbing to reach a high note.  Ideally, singing should feel like speaking. If you are unable to reach a note, try thinking in terms of speaking and it will be easier to reach a higher register without straining.  Use your vocal exercises and talk with your vocal coach about finding ways build your voice and range while still feeling natural and relaxed at all times.
• Practice regularly. Singing is based upon muscle memory, and regular practice is the only way to shape your muscles into the position they must be in for each note you sing.  It is a good idea to work on two groups of songs in your practice – practice songs and performance songs. Songs for performance you will need to know inside and out before they are ready to bring to live performance.  A practice song may not be ready to perform, but will challenge you to grow in a new direction.  Eventually, you will master it and can add it to your performance repertoire.
• Listen. Listening to different styles of music is important for a vocalist. Listen to opera, jazz, rock, folk, classical, musical theater, or any style of music you can get your hands on. Talk to your teacher and musician friends to get ideas on different types of songs you may be interested in to help expand your musical horizons.  You may come upon pieces in styles you never thought you would be interested in.
• Sing with energy, passion, and sincerity. Music is a form of expression. If you truly believe in what you are expressing, you will be successful. When singing, try to connect to the song through a personal experience and let the song come alive for you. Every emotion you express should feel real.  If your performance lacks passion, no matter how proficient a singer you are, you will never truly shine as a vocalist.   Be excited and energized about what you are singing.

For more help bettering your vocals, talk to the experts at Main Line School of Music and Dance.