Quick tips for improving your singing voice as a beginner
We often say at Forte Faye that the voice is the most personal instrument. The music you make from singing comes from within you, and because of that, it can feel like singing abilities are either something you have, or don’t. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth! With the right teacher, practice and approaches that work for you, you can absolutely improve your voice. And often, quicker than you would assume.
Practice Daily
Even if you only have 15 minutes a day, keeping your voice warm, and exercising all the muscles required to produce healthy, vibrant sounds will help you make improvements. Some easy small things you can do are sirens, sustained tones, hissing, stretching, and SOVTs.
In fact, you don’t want to tire out your voice. If you ever feel pain or like your voice needs a rest, listen to your body and take a rest. Some days, a little humming can help keep your mind and body in gear for singing.
Find the right teacher
Different exercises, approaches and mentalities work for different people. Finding a voice coach who helps to make consistent progress and feels good to work with is important. If you don’t look forward to your lessons, you aren’t going to do as well in them, or be as motivated to practice at home. If you’re not getting exercises that work for you, how are you going to make progress? Every singing teacher has a unique style, and finding the right fit for you makes the world of a difference.
Experiment
Singing develops with you understand yourself, your goals and your strengths better. What types of songs feel fun for you to sing? What feels hard? What do you want to sing? Knowing the answers to these questions can help you find your unique sound and approach to singing. Maybe you love hard rock, but singing in that style feels painful and a bit too loud for you. Your coach can help you develop strength and healthy technique, but you may find that you like your sound better when you approach those same songs with a different approach.
The other thing to keep in mind that singing is about technique and expression working hand in hand. That means that you should never try to sound like someone else, but work on the technique to see what you sound like using the same technique of the singer you’re listening to. It’s all about embracing your sound with a healthy approach.
Have Fun!
You are singing because you want to - because you love to! Don’t let practice make it become something you dread. Be easy on yourself. Approach things with an open mind and play around. Singing is so fun and silly. We meow like cats, make sirens like an ambulance, hiss, puff up our cheeks… and even more. Always remember that joy is the process, not the outcome.
Take care of yourself
Your body is your instrument when you are singing. Screaming, yelling, not getting enough sleep, not eating healthy foods, etc. all affect your body, and thus, your voice. Self care is supreme when you are a singer, so set your screen time limit, eat a healthy breakfast, get your movement in and treat your body with the love and care you deserve.
There are so many things you can do to begin progressing as a beginning singer whether you’re an adult, teen or child. These will help get you started! If you have more questions about singing lessons, feel free to reach out! Happy singing!
