Singing is more than just making pleasant sounds; it’s an art and a skill that can be nurtured and developed. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned performer, voice training is the key to unlocking your vocal potential.
This article will guide you through the essentials of vocal training, teaching you how to train your voice to sing by offering practical tips to help you sing confidently and effectively.
What is voice training?
Voice training refers to the systematic process of improving your vocal abilities through exercises, techniques, and consistent practice. It’s about more than just learning to sing on key; it involves developing breath control, vocal range, stamina, and emotional connection to your music.
At its core, voice training is a holistic practice that engages the body, mind, and emotions. Just like an athlete warms up before a game, a singer must prepare their instrument – the voice – through warm-ups, proper breathing, and posture alignment.
6 tips for training your voice
1. Warm up before you sing
Warming up is essential to protect your voice and prepare it for singing. Simple vocal exercises like lip trills, tongue rolls, or humming on a single pitch can awaken your vocal cords. Treat warm-ups like stretching before a workout – they ensure your voice is ready for the demands of singing.
2. Master your breathing technique
Breathing is the foundation of good singing. Practice diaphragmatic breathing, where your abdominal muscles expand as you inhale and contract as you exhale. Exercises like exhaling on a steady hiss help you control your breath, enabling you to hold long notes without strain.
You can also try singing through a straw into water. This helps regulate airflow and strengthens your diaphragm. Here’s how to do it:
- Take a deep breath and blow bubbles through the straw into the water.
- Keep the facial muscles relaxed. Let the abdominal muscles do the work
of supporting your breath, countering resistance from the water. This
helps build muscle memory of keeping air continually flowing forward, because if you don’t, the bubbles will simply stop.
- Next, simply hum through the straw into the water continuing to blow bubbles.
- Play around and add a melodic pattern to the hum.
3. Focus on posture
Good posture can significantly impact your vocal performance. The right posture can make it easier and harder to hit a high note.
Keep your shoulders relaxed, spine straight, and chin level. Avoid slouching or jutting your head forward, as this can strain your voice. Your body should be balanced on both heels and soles.
4. Strengthen your vocal range
To expand your range, incorporate exercises that stretch your vocal cords. Start with simple slides from low to high notes, focusing on smooth transitions between registers. For a more advanced challenge, try the squeaky door exercise, which blends your lower and upper voices seamlessly.
5. Cool down after singing
Just as athletes cool down after exercise, singers should do the same to maintain vocal health. Simple exercises like humming on “mee” or “may” can help reset your voice and bring it back to a relaxed state. Cooling down prevents strain and ensures your voice stays resilient over time.
After singing in a high range or for an extended period, it’s common for a singer’s vocal placement to shift to the back of their throat when they start speaking. This can make their voice feel weak or strained, leading them to think they’ve gone hoarse. In reality, the voice isn’t damaged—it’s just out of alignment.
6. Embrace emotional connection
Singing with sincerity and authenticity helps your audience feel the emotions in your performance. A good singing voice is valuable, but what truly captivates an audience is the emotional depth behind it. Beyond technical skills, it’s the sincerity and connection to the music that makes a performance memorable.
Once you’ve chosen your song, spend time reflecting on the lyrics and find a way to relate them to your own experiences. A useful exercise is to imagine having written the song yourself, exploring its meaning as if it were your own story. Writing down why the song resonates can help bring authenticity and deeper emotion to the performance.
What matters most of all is how your voice makes people feel.
Eric Vetro, vocal coach
How can I teach myself to sing?
While a vocal coach can provide guidance, many singers improve their voices through self-discipline and regular practice. Start by recording yourself to understand your vocal strengths and areas for improvement. Use resources like video tutorials, apps, or professional courses to guide your practice.
Voice training is a journey. Whether you’re preparing for karaoke night or aspiring to perform on stage, the key is to enjoy the process and celebrate your progress along the way. Join Eric Vetro in his course Sing Like the Stars and with patience and persistence, you can train your voice to sing beautifully and confidently.
