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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.

 

Why every singer needs a goal

and how it will transform your singing

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:

  • Learning a new song by heart.
  • Performing at a student showcase.
  • Auditioning for a musical.
  • Completing an AMEB singing exam.
  • Singing confidently in front of family and friends.
  • Improving your vocal range or breath control.

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.

 

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.

 

 

 

It’s time to perform

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.

 

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.

Born with talent?

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.

Here is Aretha Franklin still performing when she was 76 years old at the Kennedy Centre Honors in 2015

Singing when unwell

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:

1. Stay Hydrated

  • Drink Water: Keep your vocal cords well-lubricated by drinking plenty of water. Aim for room temperature or warm water, as cold water can constrict your vocal cords.
  • Avoid Caffeine and Alcohol: These can dehydrate you and irritate your throat.
  • Steam Inhalation: Inhale steam from hot water to soothe and hydrate your vocal cords. You can add a few drops of eucalyptus oil for added relief.

2. Warm Up Gently

  • Gentle Warm-Ups: Do gentle vocal exercises to warm up your voice. Start with humming or lip trills to get your vocal cords moving without too much strain.
  • Avoid High Notes: Refrain from singing high or loud notes during your warm-up. Focus on the comfortable part of your range to avoid further irritation.

3. Modify Your Technique

  • Sing Softer: Reduce the volume to avoid putting too much pressure on your vocal cords. Use a microphone to help project your voice if needed.
  • Focus on Breath Support: Use proper diaphragmatic breathing to support your voice and reduce strain on your throat.
  • Articulation and Diction: Enunciate clearly to ensure your words are understood without having to push your voice.

4. Rest and Listen to Your Body

  • Vocal Rest: Limit speaking and singing outside of necessary performances to give your voice a chance to heal.
  • Listen to Your Body: Pay attention to how your voice feels. If you experience pain or significant discomfort, it’s best to rest entirely and seek medical advice if necessary.
  • Avoid Whispering: Whispering can strain your voice more than speaking softly, so try to speak in a normal, quiet tone instead.

Taking these precautions can help you preserve your voice and reduce the risk of further damage when you’re not feeling your best.

What to sing?

Would you sing on The Voice?

The Voice begins on Monday 25th April

Who won The Voice in 2021? Have you listened to her music recently? Yes it was a girl who won – Bella Taylor Smith. A beautiful and talented singer who was able to win a singing competition in the midst of a global pandemic. But did it guarantee her success? It depends on what you classify as success. She won $100,000 and a recording contract. Has she gone on to do great things with her music. She might think so. Is her name well known? Probably if you watched the Voice, but outside that circle, I don’t think so. What about the winner in 2020? He is a more well known name: Chris Sebastian. What about his music career? Do you think it is much different because of the Voice? Maybe a little bit, but he hasn’t become a household name like his brother.

Singing competitions can be a lot of fun, or a lot of stress. They can give you opportunities to perform in front of an audience and develop your stage craft. You can win money and maybe get a music contract. My concern with a show like the Voice is that it focuses more on the back story of the singers and the judges are given a lot of focus. If you check how long the singers actually sing for, it may be a little over a minute.  How can you truly gauge the skill of the singer in that amount of time?  Does it guarantee success, wealth and the opportunity to tour the world and perform – for the very few, yes.

I think singing competitions are worthwhile, if you treat them as an opportunity for you to improve as a singer and musician. Focus on how you can take this opportunity as a way to grow as a musician. But don’t go into these thinking it will bring fame and fortune. That will only come with hard work, constant, consistent practice and persistence.  Make sure you watch The Voice, even if only for one episode. Appreciate the courage it takes for these singers to get on stage in front of a nation wide audience and then enjoy the singing.