10 Tips For Aspiring Singers

When people find out that I am a vocalist--whether through conversation or after actually having seen me perform--they become very excited, saying things like, "Oh that seems like so much fun!" or "I've always wanted to learn how to sing!" I, like many others, naturally want to help people, so I try to give them some little tidbits of advice, usually offering lessons or a chance to get together to chat about music.

Which brings me to the point of this post: ten tips for aspiring singers. I was asked this question in which to compile ten tips several days ago. Being that musicians always try to help each other out, there is no shortage to the amount of advice one could give about a particular area of music, especially singing. However, I will do my best to try to keep the list to ten.

Tip#1: First and foremost, try your hardest to train with a vocal instructor, especially if you are truly interested in pursuing singing. Even if it is group lessons every week or once a month (though I would suggest meeting with the instructor for additional, one-on-one work), you should be studying with someone. You want to constantly be trying to progress and the only way to do this is to study with a teacher who really pushes you and gets you out of your comfort zone. Vocal range, breath technique, performance technique, repertoire--all of these aspects contribute to singing and all of these can be explored in depth with a vocal instructor.

Tip#2: Practice. Everyday. Talent means nothing without working at it. Some of the most amazing musicians I know practice for hours a day. The voice is a much more delicate instrument than say, drums or piano, so I would recommend, at the most, an hour a day. This is the time for you to become intimately familiar with your voice--what note your voice bottoms out on, what vocal inflections you think sound good at the end of that song phrase--and to experiment. Practice scales, breathing, song repertoire and anything else that either your vocal instructor or you yourself feel you need to do in order to grow, musically.

Tip#3: Practice with an actual piano. Many singers don't realize how important intonation and staying on pitch is when it comes to singing. You can have an extensive song repertoire, great stage presence, and breath control, but if you're not singing the right pitches, then the effort is almost meaningless. It would be the same as a drummer who can do extensive. elaborate soloing, but can't keep time. What's the point? Practice with a piano to make sure you are singing the right notes and stay singing the right notes.

Tip#4: Learn how to read music and study music theory, especially if you are pursuing singing professionally. This seems like it would be a given, but there are musicians out there,  myself included, who are not the strongest in music theory or have problems with skills such as sight-reading. These skills enable you to not only create your own music, but also make you more able to communicate with other band members in musical situations. Having even a basic idea of music theory and musical concepts can help avoid misunderstandings and can help aide your confidence during performance.

Tip#5: Listen to many different types of music and expose yourself to as many different musical situations as possible. Listening to a multitude of different music makes you discover what you like and what your own unique sound is. Expanding your musical palate not only helps you grow as a musician, but also as a person. Putting yourself into different musical situations allows you to meet different people--potential future band mates or employers. Which leads to my next tip.

Tip 6: Practice with an actual band. Practicing by yourself and performing to a track or a cappella is very different than working with an actual band or even just one other musician. You learn how to work on vocal dynamics during performance and how to project properly over the other instruments in the band. As musicians (and as people), you should also know how work with others and how to communicate what you want or what you like, both verbally and musically. This is also another avenue to use to discover who you are and what your own unique voice is, so take advantage of this opportunity.

Tip 7: Be humble. Know how to take constructive criticism from not only your teachers, but from other musicians and your audience as well. Not everyone is going to like your music or your performance. Musicians spend years studying their craft and bare their all on stage, so it is only natural to be somewhat intimidated or offended when someone gives harsh criticism. However, you must learn to deal with criticism in a healthy way and move on. Don't be afraid to ask for help either--there are plenty of people who are willing to give tips and advice if you need or want it.


Tip#8: Protect your voice. Smoking or drinking excessively takes its toll on the voice. Yelling or belting a note just to be heard during performance or rehearsal can strain and/or damage the vocal chords. Take the time--both with your vocal instructor and by yourself--to study proper vocal technique for performance situations. Practice it so much that it becomes second-nature and instinctual. The voice is a delicate instrument that can be wrecked if you don't practice proper technique.

Tip#9: Exercise and eat right. This seems trivial, but exercising four to five times a week--whether biking, doing yoga, hiking or jogging on a treadmill--contributes to your overall well-being. This is also true with proper nutrition. The more physically fit you are, the more stamina you will have for practicing and performance. Make sure to drink plenty of water also because it cleanses and hydrates the body, giving fuel to your precious vocal chords.

Tip #10: Don't be afraid to make mistakes. When you make mistakes, it means you're growing. The only way we as musicians, individuals and human beings can progress is if we give ourselves the opportunity to fail. When you first learned how to ride a bike, there were times you fell down or fell off--I know I did--but you got back on the bike. As long as when you make a mistake (or fail), you get up, dust yourself off and keep going, then you have nothing to worry about because you will improve the next time you try again.

Hopefully. these tips help you, whether you are singing for fun or on a professional level. These are things that I have learned from teachers, other musicians and through trial and error. I do believe that these are basic fundamental elements to singing that can and should be implemented on a daily basis. Most importantly, don't forget to enjoy yourself when singing. That is why you got into singing to begin with. Don't forget to enjoy yourself and the music.