Do you love to sing in the car and the shower but worry about how you sound? Are you unsure if you are a good singer? Would you like to improve your voice? Check out these 5 tips to a better quality voice.
Take Voice Lessons
It seems like a no brainer to take lessons when learning a new instrument or sport. Yet, some people forget that voice lessons are an invaluable resource to getting a better quality voice. While you can learn songs independently, learning correct vocal technique is not something you can do from just looking online or watching Youtube videos. You can find valuable resources online that can give you more information about singing such as this blog post; How Do I Find My Vocal Range. A Seattle voice teacher, however, is there to hear your voice, evaluate the sound quality, and adjust your technique. Make sure to do your research when finding a teacher. Check out their background and qualifications and see if they can teach the style of music you are interested in.
It is always okay to try new teachers and make sure you are a good fit! If you are taking lessons with someone and after a few months you don’t feel your voice is improving or you are unhappy with the changes in sound quality then it is okay look for another teacher. There are thousands of amazing voice teachers you can work with in your city or online around the country! If you want to try voice lessons in Seattle check out our amazing teachers at Lessons In Your Home.
Practice Good Technique
Everyone knows that practice is important when learning new skills. Practice is particularly crucial for learning to sing because so much of the technique depends on muscle memory! Your body already has a default setting for how it makes sound and through lessons you are going to retrain those muscles. They need lots of repetition to create a new default setting. It is important to make time each week to practice. You can practice every day or at least 3 days a week. The more you practice, the faster you will grow. The best way to practice is to use the resources your voice teacher has given you during your lessons. This leads perfectly into number 3. Record yourself! You can record your voice lessons and practice by singing along with them. It is almost like you get to take the lesson again each time! You will be amazed with how fast your voice quality can improve with proper practice.
Record Yourself Singing
Have you ever heard a recording of your voice speaking or singing and thought “That’s how I sound?!”. Your voice sounds different in your head than the outside person hears. This is because your ears are hearing the sound through the inside of your body which does sound different than once it leaves your mouth. Having a device to record your singing practice is a helpful tool. This way you will get an accurate idea of your sound quality, how well your voice is matching pitch, how consistent and stable the sound is and what you need to work on.
Take Care of Your Vocal Health
Taking care of your vocal health is very important as a singer. Not only do you need to be careful about singing when you are sick, but you also need to be mindful of how you use your voice throughout the day. Talking loudly all day or yelling is hard on your voice. The tissues that make up your vocal chords are delicate! They can be easily damaged. If your voice is feeling hoarse or tired after a long day of talking/yelling you need to pay more attention to your vocal health. When practicing singing your throat should not feel sore or tired. If your voice feels “blown-out” after singing you are not using correct and healthy vocal technique. Your voice teacher can help you make adjustments to keep your sound production healthy and efficient. A voice teacher can also hear if you might be suffering from a voice disorder that needs the attention of an ENT doctor.
Set Goals and Check Progress
It’s important to mark your starting point and create goals to track your progress. A voice teacher can help assess what you need to work on and help with setting a time-line for your goals. Usually, singers work to improve their pitch accuracy and range, stability and consistency in sound, tone quality, resonance, and expressivity. Having recordings of your practices, lessons, and performances gives you a great resource to check your progress. Sometimes in the midst of practicing we can miss our own progress. Listening back to an old recording should give you a great idea of what’s improving and what still needs work. A studio recital with your voice teacher will give you the perfect opportunity to set goals and practice performing in public.
What Next?
There are many ways to improve your voice quality. These 5 tips should help get you started on your singing journey. Remember, there are many resources and people out there who want to help you improve. If you are the parent of an interested singer, you can also find ways to support your child’s singing. If you or your child are interested in trying voice lessons our teachers will come right to your home for every lesson, plus we offer virtual music lessons, too. However, our online music lessons are being taught by local music teachers with live lessons tailored to your child! Contact us today to learn more.
