Singers, let’s face some ugly truths. Within the music industry, singers get a bad rap. Too many beautiful voices are running amok and not realizing the musical errors they’re making (and thereby how hard they are to work with). Singers that get ahead are often those who make their bandmates’ jobs easier by being easy to communicate– yes, in terms of how friendly and professional they are, but also that they’re on the same page musically. When you keep in mind that singers are often called on to be the band leader, this is doubly important! So, what do you...

As a singer, you’re probably already aware of how many facets there are to learning how to give an effective performance. You’ve got to have reliable vocal technique to trust that your voice will always do what you intend, even under pressure. You’ve got to work on your stage presence and performance skills. You’ve got to use stylistic effects appropriate to the genre (or have good language diction skills, in the case of classical singing). You’ve got to be able to communicate with other musicians, and/or have some degree of musical literacy and vocabulary. You’ve got to have great rhythm...

As a singer, you likely know how important being in touch with your body awareness is. Perhaps you’ve noticed the effects of jaw or tongue tension on your sound, or know that you have a habit of slumping and impeding your ability to take in a full, comfortable breath. Maybe you’ve thought about your posture, or better yet, your alignment throughout your body. The further you get into your study of singing, the more likely you are to come across references to some wonderful bodywork disciplines, each of which can genuinely benefit not only singers, but anyone who relies on...

Singing is a great joy to carry through your entire life. However, there are some important considerations to keep in mind at all stages of life– from early childhood singing straight through the aging voice– in order to maintain vocal health, comfort, and flexibility. Children’s Voices If your little one loves to sing, encourage it! A love for music is a wonderful thing and we never want an eager child to stray away from making music or develop anxieties around it. However, listen carefully for straining or shouting which can be very damaging to immature vocal mechanisms. In fact, vocal...

If you’re struggling with the difficulty of singing something you’ve always wanted to master, we’ve got good news! Singing well is not about trying harder. Instead, singing well is 100% about working smarter and finding ease and freedom. After seeing high level performers give it their emotional all on stage, amateur singers often misjudge the emotional expression as physical effort. The truth of the matter is that singing well feels EFFORTLESS. Finding an ease, open sound should FEEL easy and open– never forceful or strained (unless applying a special vocal effect, used sparingly and with control). The key to success...

Stage fright is easily the most common roadblock that keeps singers from putting their art out into the world. Even when sharing a pre-recorded video, those familiar anxieties might flare up and make a singer second guess themself! But, the fact of the matter is that this is one challenge whose best escape route is to plough right through. The most reliable way a singer can free themselves from this burden is to work it out in active practice… by performing. Our bodies are amazing. From the intricate balances of air, pressure, and vibration that make up our voices in...

While a ballet dancer often trains in modern or hip-hop technique as well, Cross-training is a relatively new phenomena in the study of Singing. Perhaps brought about by the inclusion of more types of music on the Broadway stages starting around the 1980s, professional singers are now more commonly asked to be flexible in moving seamlessly between different styles of music. Even if you’re not aspiring to be a professional Broadway star, there are plenty of benefits to knowing how to switch styles! Perhaps you love singing with a classical chorus, but also want to belt out your favorite Top...

It’s a common misconception that singing with good, healthy technique might not be possible for all styles of music, particularly hard rock or heavy metal (though even Musical Theatre Belting can be dangerous if not approached properly). Fortunately, we now know (thanks to advances in exercise science that better allow us to study the muscles of vocal production) that a balanced technique is helpful to giving all singers the flexibility and longevity they hope for, whatever style of music they choose to sing. On the flip side, it is true that some styles call for vocal effects that can be...

You might think that singing is closer to an athletic feat than it is to meditative practice, but think again! Although it’s true that the physical muscle coordination necessary to sing at a high level requires a solid workout, you may be surprised to learn that building body awareness is the first major step in learning to sing well. After all, if your mind and body aren’t listening to each other, it’s really essential to create a mind-body connection through mindfulness. What do we mean by body awareness? Well, take a deep breath. What did you feel? If you can’t...