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Don’t spend all your practice singing through your whole song.
Instead, find the three trickiest spots and practise just those sections.
Try this:
Professional performers spend more time fixing little sections than singing the whole piece over and over.
Every small improvement builds confidence.
I had the pleasure of preparing the children’s choir for the touring production of Don Giovanni with Opera Australia. It was a lot of fun working with a group of 15 enthusiastic young singers, a lot who were my vocal students. They had a very short rehearsal run, with me teaching the music and the actual stage rehearsal was with Opera Australia for 1 hour the day before, and 1 hour the day of the performance. The children learnt so much and it was an awesome opportunity for them to work with a professional company.
If you are interested in learning to sing, these sorts of opportunities are what make it happen. Some of my students have already performed multiple times this year. With Opera Australia, with local music theatre groups, with their school choir, and some will be performing next week in Singing Strong’s mid year showcase.
These children are getting out there and raking up the many hours of practice that it takes to learn their craft. As I have said many times, the only way to get better at performing is to practice performing.
Taylor Swift has been performing since she was 12 years old. Her parents were very helpful in getting opportunities for her to perform, but it still took the effort of getting out and practicing performing. She wrote over 100 songs before she even started going to record labels to get a deal. She practices her craft.
How are you practicing your craft? When was the last time you practiced singing?
Here is an exercise video to get you started right now:
Have you ever noticed how much easier it is to stay motivated when you’re working towards something specific?
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced performer, having a goal gives your singing practice purpose. Instead of simply singing through songs, every lesson and practice session becomes a step towards achieving something meaningful.
Your goal doesn’t have to be huge. It could be:
Goals also make progress easier to see. On days when you feel like you’re not improving, you can look back and realise just how far you’ve come. That sense of achievement builds confidence and keeps you moving forward.
The best goals are specific, achievable, and exciting. They should challenge you just enough to encourage growth without feeling overwhelming.
At Singing Strong, we encourage every student to have something they’re working towards. Whether it’s a performance, an exam, an eisteddfod, or simply becoming a more confident singer, having a destination makes the journey far more rewarding.
Ask yourself today: What is my next singing goal?
Once you know where you’re heading, every practice session has a purpose.
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.
Learning music doesn’t just doesn’t just make you a musician, it actually builds bravery.
Music and particularly performing music, lives in the same part of your brain where you recognize your own nakedness.
Every time someone performs, they are presenting to the audience – this is what I made, this is a piece of who I am.
That’s scary.
And bravery is doing something while you are afraid of doing it.
Every time that you do something that you are afraid of doing, every time you do something bravely, it actually rewires your self concept, what you think about yourself.
Neural pathways get built that tell ourselves I can do difficult things and I can do it in front of people.
What is so amazing is that neural pathway that has been built doesn’t stay in music.
It shows up in job interviews, it shows up when you volunteer in the community, it shows up when you stand up to a bully.
There are so many places in life when we require bravery, the ability to do something while we are afraid to do it.
Bravery is built in the mind and the body through repeated acts of bravery.
And music is a bravery gym.
Preparing for Your Performance
You need to start preparing weeks prior to a performance.
You cannot cram music. It always takes time.
Here are some simple ways to ensure you’re ready to shine on stage:
Practice consistently:
Even 15–20 minutes each day will build confidence and strengthen your performance.
Remember vocal health isn’t built the day of the performance. It’s built in the days and weeks leading up to it.
Know your lyrics thoroughly:
The better you know your words, the more you’ll be able to communicate the story and emotion of your song.
Rehearse with your backing track:
If you are using a backing track, practice with the exact version you’ll perform with so everything feels familiar on the night.
Perform before performance night:
Sing for family, friends, and record yourself. The more often you perform, the more comfortable you’ll feel.
Think about your stage presence:
Stand confidently, smile, make eye contact with your audience, and enjoy the moment.
Take care of your voice:
Drink plenty of water, get enough sleep, and avoid shouting or straining your voice in the days leading up to the concert.
Plan your outfit early:
Choose something comfortable, neat and performance-ready so you can focus on enjoying your time on stage.
Remember…
No performance has to be perfect. What matters most is sharing your music with confidence, courage and joy.
I came across a live performance of Raye at Live at Montreux Jazz Festival, 7th July 2026. This was an amazing live performance that has been generously uploaded to you tube.
You can watch the full performance below.
This is a wonderful performance where the music is the focus and the high level of the musicians is on display for all to enjoy.
I was first made aware of the artist Raye when I heard the song Oscar Winning Tears and then her song Where is my husband.
If you are thinking that this has all just fallen into her lap, you are very wrong.
It is interesting to note that she is a singer songwriter that has been performing for over 10 years. She is now 28 years old, so started her music career when she was very young. However it has taken her a long time to find international recognition. Her determination, hard work, developing her craft has finally got her to this level of performance.
Watch this performance and see the comfort she displays being on stage, the hours and hours and hours of rehearsal that would have gone into this performance, and the simple joy of creating great music.
Here is another video of Raye recording the song “I know you’re hurting” live at Abbey Road Studios.
This is another fabulous performance of a singer that has full control of her vocals.
You often hear the argument about whether being naturally gifted or hard work brings success. I believe that people are born with a predisposition towards certain things. I have always known that I would be a teacher. There is no way I would ever consider doing something like nursing! That is the way I am.
And the same is true for other passions in life. I love singing, but I would not be interested in become a downhill speed skier. Watching them race at the Winter Olympics fills me with awe, but no desire to try it.
I came across a video from vocal coach Cheryl Porter.
She is reviewing an audition by Aretha Franklin’s granddaughter. The assumption by many is because she is related to Aretha Franklin, she should be a fantastic singer. Now, she is only 15 years old, and from her performance it appears she has not had a lot of performing opportunities. She has a good voice, but as Cheryl is pointing out, although there is a good voice, there are technical issues that need to be worked on. She has not put in enough hours to improve her singing technique.
Here is a recording of Aretha at only 14 years of age. Aretha regularly performed at her fathers church, so she had already had numerous opportunities to perform. Aretha was well practised at performing, and you can hear she had already been working very hard for many years to develop and improve her voice.
I strongly believe that we have a predisposition towards certain skills and talents, however you still have to put in the hard work to experience any success.
Singing when unwell can be challenging, but there are ways to minimize strain and still perform effectively. Here are four tips to help you manage:
Taking these precautions can help you preserve your voice and reduce the risk of further damage when you’re not feeling your best.
Click on the image below to get my free pdf : Mastering Lyrics 8 tips for effortless memorization.
