Category Archives: practice

Practice

Want to Become a Better Singer? There’s No Shortcut—You Have to Practise!

The 10-minute habit that can make a real difference to your singing

You have your singing lesson. You learn something new. You leave feeling inspired and excited about your voice.

Then life happens.

School. Work. Family. Dinner. Netflix. Social media. Appointments. And suddenly it’s the day before your next singing lesson and you realise…

“I haven’t practised!”

Sound familiar?

If you want to improve your singing, there is one thing that makes a bigger difference than almost anything else:

Regular practice.

There are no magic exercises, secret techniques or shortcuts that can replace actually using your voice.

Your singing teacher can give you the tools, exercises and techniques you need—but practice is what teaches your voice to use them naturally.

And here’s the really good news:

You don’t need to practise for hours every day.

In fact, 10–15 minutes of focused practice, done regularly, can be far more effective than one long practice session every couple of weeks.

So how can you make practising easier—and actually stick to it?

Here are three simple tips.

1. Make Singing Practice Part of Your Routine

One of the biggest reasons people don’t practise is that they are waiting for the perfect time.

The problem is that the perfect time rarely appears!

Instead of thinking, “I’ll practise when I have time,” choose a regular time when you can fit singing into your day.

Perhaps it’s:

  • Before school or work
  • When you get home
  • Before dinner
  • After your morning coffee
  • Before you go to bed

It doesn’t have to be a long session.

Even 10 minutes counts.

The secret is to make singing practice a habit rather than something you have to constantly remind yourself to do.

Think about brushing your teeth. You don’t usually ask yourself, “Do I feel motivated to brush my teeth today?”

You just do it because it’s part of your routine.

Try to make your singing practice the same.

Small + regular = progress

Ten minutes of practice five times a week gives you 50 minutes of focused singing practice.

That’s much better than practising for an hour once every few weeks.

2. Practise What You Need to Improve

There’s a big difference between singing and practising singing.

Singing your favourite song from beginning to end can be fun—and absolutely has its place.

But if you want to improve, your practice needs to be more targeted.

Think about what your singing teacher has asked you to work on.

Perhaps you’re working on:

🎤 Pitch – singing the notes accurately

🌬️ Breath control – managing your breath through longer phrases

🎶 Higher notes – developing strength and confidence in your upper range

🗣️ Diction – making your words clear

😌 Relaxation – releasing unnecessary tension in your jaw, tongue or throat

💪 Vocal strength – developing a stronger, more consistent sound

Rather than simply singing the entire song again and again, spend some time working specifically on the areas that need improvement.

If one particular phrase is difficult, stop and work on that phrase.

Sing it slowly.

Break it into smaller sections.

Repeat it.

Then put it back into the song.

This is how your voice learns.

Don’t practise what you already know you can do!

It’s tempting to spend your whole practice session singing the parts of a song that feel good.

But improvement happens when you spend some time working on the things that are challenging.

Practise the problem—not just the performance.

3. Keep Your Practice Sessions Short and Achievable

Have you ever thought:

“I don’t have an hour to practise, so I won’t bother.”

Forget that idea!

You don’t need an hour.

Try a 10-minute singing practice session instead.

Your 10-minute Singing Strong practice plan

2 minutes – Warm up

Start gently and get your voice moving.

3 minutes – Vocal exercises

Work through the exercises your singing teacher has given you.

5 minutes – Song practice

Choose one section of your song and focus on improving something specific.

That’s it!

If you have more time, fantastic—keep going.

But if you only have ten minutes, you’ve still made progress.

And remember:

Quality beats quantity.

Ten minutes of really focused practice is much more valuable than 30 minutes of singing while you’re distracted, tired or simply going through the motions.

Put your phone aside.

Concentrate.

Listen to your voice.

And give yourself a specific goal for each practice session.

Why Does Regular Singing Practice Work?

Your voice is an instrument—but it’s an instrument that lives inside your body.

Singing involves your breathing muscles, vocal folds, tongue, jaw, posture, hearing and coordination all working together.

Your body needs time and repetition to learn these movements.

That’s why something that feels difficult today can suddenly feel much easier after you’ve worked on it regularly.

You may not notice the improvement from one practice session to the next.

But over weeks and months, those small improvements start to add up.

A difficult note becomes easier.

Your breathing becomes more natural.

Your pitch becomes more reliable.

Your voice becomes stronger.

You become more confident.

And eventually, something that once required a lot of concentration starts to happen almost automatically.

That’s the power of regular practice.

Don’t Wait Until You Feel Motivated

Perhaps the most important thing to remember is this:

You don’t have to feel like practising to practise.

Some days you’ll be excited to sing.

Other days you’ll be tired and would rather do anything else!

That’s normal.

The goal isn’t to have a perfect practice routine.

The goal is simply to keep coming back to it.

Even on the days when you don’t feel particularly motivated, ten minutes can make a difference.

And often, once you start singing, you’ll find that you actually want to keep going.

Your Singing Challenge

Why not try this for the next two weeks?

Practise for just 10 minutes a day.

Choose one thing to work on.

Set a timer.

Put your phone away.

Focus.

And don’t worry about being perfect.

At the end of the two weeks, ask yourself:

Does this feel easier than it did two weeks ago?

You might be surprised at the difference.

Ready to Take Your Singing to the Next Level?

At Singing Strong, singing lessons aren’t just about learning songs. They’re about helping you understand your voice, develop good technique and build the confidence to become the singer you want to be.

Your teacher can show you what you need to work on.

But your regular practice is what turns those lessons into real progress.

So don’t wait for the perfect time.

Start with 10 minutes. Start today.

 

Spot the problem

Don’t spend all your practice singing through your whole song.

Instead, find the three trickiest spots and practise just those sections.

Try this:

  • Sing the difficult phrase slowly.
  • Repeat it three times correctly.
  • Then put it back into the song.

Professional performers spend more time fixing little sections than singing the whole piece over and over.

Every small improvement builds confidence.

 

One small change

There is one small change you can make to improve your singing instantly.

I have noticed that I have been reminding my students about this regularly.

Even in warm up exercises, they start the phrase strongly but by the end of the phrase it can be weak, often breathy.

One thing you can improve in your singing overall is to add energy throughout.

Make sure you stay engaged throughout the entire song.

A great singer doesn’t just start a song well. They end them beautifully as well.

A strong ending makes your performance sound polished, professional and full of confidence.

 

 

 

Why am I singing flat?

What are the main reasons people sing flat?

Developing singing skills is just like learning any instrument. To be able to sing on pitch and not sound flat you need to develop your singing technique,

be able to hear whether you are singing on pitch or sounding flat, and you require the confidence, energy and songs suitable for you to sing.

Poor breath support

Without steady airflow, the vocal folds don’t vibrate efficiently, causing notes to sag below the correct pitch.

Signs:

  • Notes start in tune but drift flat.
  • Long notes get lower as they continue.
  • The voice sounds weak or breathy.

Making sure you practice regularly to build good breath support is very important.

Ear training

A lack of ear training can have a lot to do with singing flat.

Sometimes the singer simply isn’t hearing the pitch accurately enough to match or maintain it.

Signs:

  • Difficulty matching a single note.
  • Trouble noticing when singing is out of tune.
  • Better pitch when singing with others than alone.

Your singing is boring

Flat singing can happen when the singer isn’t fully committing to the sound.

This is common with shy or inexperienced singers that aren’t adding enough energy, even when singing softly.

Signs:

  • Singing quietly or hesitantly.
  • Pitch improves when singing confidently.
  • Better tuning during energetic songs.

Song range is too challenging

Trying to sing notes that are too low or too high can make it difficult to maintain accurate pitch.

Signs:

  • Lower notes lose resonance and go flat.
  • High notes become strained and drop in pitch.
  • The voice feels uncomfortable.

Pop songs for boys under 10

Teaching boys under the age of  10 to enjoy singing lessons and singing.

  1. Start with Fun and Playful Exercises: Introduce singing through fun exercises that engage their imagination and playfulness. Games like “Simon Says” where they mimic vocal sounds or animal noises can be great warm-ups. Encourage them to sing along to their favorite songs or cartoons, making it enjoyable and natural.
  2. Provide Positive Encouragement: Building confidence is crucial at this age. Offer plenty of positive reinforcement and encouragement. Celebrate their efforts, no matter how small, and focus on progress rather than perfection. Create a supportive environment where they feel safe to explore their voice without fear of judgment.
  3. Incorporate Visual and Kinesthetic Learning: Young boys often respond well to visual and kinesthetic learning. Use visual aids like diagrams of vocal anatomy to explain concepts in a simple and engaging manner. Encourage physical movements that help with breath control and vocal projection, such as stretching or pretending to blow bubbles. Incorporating movement into singing can make it more dynamic and enjoyable for them.

By combining these approaches, you can make learning to sing a fun and rewarding experience, setting a strong foundation for their musical journey ahead.

The following songs are popular, catchy, and have relatively simple melodies and lyrics, making them suitable for young boys to sing along with and enjoy.

Number One: Hound Dog by Elvis Presley

This is a very repetitive song and has a small vocal range, making it very easy for young boys to learn quickly, sing and enjoy.

Number Two: Here comes the sun by the Beatles

Always check the key the song is in and if that key suits the child.  Sometimes you may need to raise the key to make it easier to sing in their vocal range.  Remember, these voices are still immature and they don’t have the vocal chords that an adult male has, meaning they are not yet able to sing really low notes.

Here is the Beatles version, as well as the same song in a higher key.

Number Three: Count on me by Bruno Mars

Number Four: Rip Tide by Vance Joy

Number Five: Kung Fu Fighting by Carl Douglas

Number Six: It’s a good day to have a great day by Russell Dickerson

Number Seven: Can’t stop the feeling by Justin Timberlake

Number Eight: Footloose by Kenny Loggins

Number Nine: Fireflies by Owl City

Number Ten: Lanterns by Birds of Tokyo

Number Eleven: Crocodile Rock by Elton John

Number Twelve: Best day of my life by American Authors

How do I sing high notes?

Singing high notes requires a combination of proper technique, practice, and understanding your vocal range.

Here are five essential steps to help you sing higher:

  1. Warm-up and Vocal Exercises: Before attempting to sing high notes, it’s crucial to warm up your voice. Start with gentle humming or lip trills to loosen up your vocal cords. Then, do vocal exercises that focus on expanding your vocal range gradually. These exercises could include scales, arpeggios, and sirens. Consistent practice of these exercises will help strengthen your voice and increase your ability to hit higher notes.
  2. Proper Breathing Technique: Proper breathing is essential for singing high notes effectively. Practice diaphragmatic breathing, where you breathe deeply from your diaphragm rather than shallowly from your chest. Engage your abdominal muscles to support your breath, allowing for better control and power when reaching for higher pitches. Learning to control your breath flow is key to sustaining high notes without strain.
  3. Relaxation and Posture: Tension in your body can hinder your ability to sing high notes comfortably. Maintain good posture by standing or sitting up straight, with your shoulders relaxed and your chest open. Tension in your neck, jaw, or throat can restrict airflow and make it harder to reach higher pitches. Practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and gentle stretches to release tension before singing.
  4. Head Voice and Mixed Voice: Understanding the different registers of your voice is crucial for singing high notes. Your head voice is the lighter, higher register of your voice, while your chest voice is lower and fuller. Work on transitioning smoothly between these registers to achieve a balanced and connected sound in your high notes. Developing a mixed voice, which combines elements of both head and chest voice, can help you maintain a strong and controlled sound throughout your vocal range.
  5. Consistent Practice and Patience: Like any skill, singing high notes takes time and dedication to master. Practice regularly, but be patient with yourself as you work on expanding your vocal range and improving your technique. Record yourself singing to track your progress and identify areas for improvement. Seek feedback from a vocal coach or experienced singer who can provide guidance and help you develop a healthy and sustainable approach to singing high notes. Remember to listen to your body and avoid pushing your voice beyond its limits to prevent strain or injury. With consistent practice and proper technique, you can gradually increase your ability to sing high notes with confidence and ease.

Exhalation on a hiss

This breathing exercise is to help develop better breath control for good, well supported singing. Make sure the body is relaxed, the shoulders down, and you are breathing low in the body. Take a good breath and then hiss for as long as you can. Aim to keep the air flow steady, don’t let it shudder, and have a feeling of the air escaping slowly, don’t let the breath go all at once. Keep a steady, firm exhalation. Take a low breath, start the timer and see how long you can exhale for on a steady hiss. Do this regularly and keep a record of your time. See how much you can improve over a month.

 

If you would like to have one to one singing lessons with Mary @ Singing Strong,  click here to register your details.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Practice, Practice, Practice

It has been a very busy week for me this week, as along with everything I usually do in a week, I am also preparing for an audition.  I haven’t done one of these in a long time, and although it is a little stressful, it is wonderful that things are starting to get back to normal so that shows can once again be staged.
Usually I like to be well prepared for auditions, but for some reason, this one has crept up on me. In an audition they usually ask you to perform something from the show, and then a section of a song that is similar in style to the show you are auditioning for.

I chose to sing the beginning of The worst pies in London from Sweeny Todd. Now Sondheim, the composer composes very challenging music.  You can watch a performance by the amazing Patti Lupone here.

The challenge here was the words. It is so fast and there is no time to think, they have to be known.
So how do you go about learning something like this in 4 days?  Well you practice really hard.

Some of the things I have done to learn the piece include: Listening to the recording at least 50 times, probably more. Chunking it up. Learn the first phrase, add the next and so on. I broke it up also into two sections, the first one has lots of fast phrases, the second section is more legato and you have a little more time to think. As soon as I wake up in the morning, I go through the lyrics for about 15 minutes, then probably sing through the song about 10 times.

Whenever I had a spare moment during the day, I would play the music on my phone. I would spend time in front of the music score looking for clues about how to sing the piece accurately, revise lyrics, rhythm and melody. I spent about an hour each day doing this.  After a couple of days I would start to attempt to put some moves with the music to be able to perform the song, not just sing it. Then go over and over and over it until I feel confident I can sing it accurately. I was even going through it in my head while swimming my morning laps at the pool.

In total I guess I have spent approximately 3 hours a day rehearsing.
This gives you a bit of a clue as to how much practice is required to learn a 90 second piece of a song.

If you would like to have individual singing lessons with me, please click on this link to register your details.