At Nspirement, we’ve explored exceptional singing talents such as the Ancient Chinese sensation Xue Tan, Classical Music stars like The Three Tenors and Maria Callas, and modern virtuosos such as Malakai Bayoh. You probably have your favorite singer whose voice gives you goosebumps whenever you hear them singing.
But is singing a natural talent or a skill that you can learn? Can you become a good singer even if you don’t have a broad vocal range? Luckily, the answer is yes! Of course, some people are born with a pleasant voice, but you can improve your singing skills by learning singing techniques. Even the most gifted singers spend hours practicing their tone, pitch, tuning, and above all, their confidence.
This article explores tricks to help you become a good singer, whether you aspire to be a professional singer, want to impress at the next karaoke night, or just want to enjoy your voice in the shower.
Ways to improve your singing skills
1. Proper vocal warm-up and cool-down
Physical warm-ups prepare your muscles before subjecting them to intense exercises. Similarly, vocal warm-ups help prepare the muscles of your mouth and throat before singing. Also, doing a warm-up will prevent strain and improve vocal flexibility.
There are various ways of warming up. One of the easiest ways is humming. Humming can be done anytime, anywhere and it’s been proven useful in releasing tension and tone stress. Experts also recommend cooling down after singing through activities like humming or vocal sirens.
Good warm-up and cool-down sessions will keep your vocal chords in shape and improve your stamina.
2. Singing posture
Your body posture can influence how you sing, so it’s important to find the right way to position your body. Your voice and the power of producing tones can be affected by slumping your shoulders, hunching over, or tilting your head sideways.
The best singing posture is keeping your chest and shoulders high, head level, and abdomen relaxed. This body position allows air to flow freely and your diaphragm to expand fully as you sing. You can practice this position by practicing singing while lying down, then replicate that position when standing.
3. Daily practice
Author Malcolm Gladwell wrote, “Practice isn’t the thing you do once you are good. It’s the thing you do that makes you good.” Practicing till you become perfect seems like such a cliche, but whether you are talented or not, it’s one of the weapons in your arsenal that you shouldn’t ignore.
4. Learn breath control and support
Most people don’t breathe to their full lung capacity, so breathing exercises can help improve their singing. Experts advise singers to sing from their diaphragm. Try to maintain a steady flow of air while singing instead of shallow breaths.
Breath support allows you to control the dynamics of your voice, control notes, and deliver powerful performances.
5. Practice articulation or diction
Surprisingly, if you improve your diction and articulation, your singing becomes clearer and louder. It also allows your audience to hear the lyrics and relate to your message because you are not mumbling or slurring.
Ensure your consonants are clear and vowels form when you sing. One way to do this is to ensure your jaws are open when pronouncing the vowels “a-e-i-o-u”. Practice using tongue twisters and exercises that target vowels to improve your enunciation.
6. Understand your flaws
What sets you apart from your singing icons? The best way to know how you sound is by recording yourself singing a song you know well and replaying it. Compare your recording with the original version and list your errors. This helps you understand what to work on and how to improve your singing.
7. Take care of your voice
If you are a singer, your voice is your instrument, so you’ve got to take care of it. Cultivate healthy habits such as eating a balanced diet with fruits, vegetables, and grains, ensuring you hydrate, limiting alcoholic drinks, and avoiding smoking. Neglecting your voice can make it hoarse or affect it in other ways.
8. Enhance pitch accuracy and intonation
As you improve your singing abilities, it’s also important to hone your ability to recognize and replicate pitches perfectly. You can enhance your pitch control by singing alongside a keyboard or guitar or using pitch-matching apps. Over time, you will perfect your sense of pitch, allowing you to hit the right notes.
Similarly, you can work on expanding your vocal range and flexibility, especially if you want to sing various songs or genres. One of the first tricks of increasing your range is finding your volume. This is the voice where you are neither shouting nor whispering – things which cause your sound to either crack or fall flat.
9. Learn to convey emotions
Earlier, we mentioned Maria Callas, and besides her voice, she connected with her audience because of her excellent portrayal of emotions. Learn to use changes in volume and intensity, facial expressions, and other dynamics. According to the Artium Academy, embracing vulnerability is one of the best ways to connect with your audience.
Your singing has to be genuine, and to inspire people and get their attention, you have to be confident. Use positive affirmations or gradual exposure to find your footing if you lack confidence.
Conclusion
Using these strategies in your singing practice can help you improve your vocal skills, expand your repertoire, or become a more confident and expressive singer. Remember, perfection needs practice, so stay dedicated and enjoy the journey.
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