Learn to Sing Today: 3 Exercises to Get You Started
Singing is not necessarily a natural talent. If it were, all voice teachers would have to find a new job. In fact, everyone can learn to sing, as long as there is enough dedication.
Today, with all the available resources we have, it is definitely not impossible. You can take singing lessons at a music academy with a private teacher or even at home, with the help of home study courses for beginners like Yvonne DeBandi’s ‘Singing Is Easy’ or Emily Mander’s ‘Singorama’.
Regardless of which method you choose, you must first learn how your “instrument” works and how to use it correctly in order to have the best singing experience, so here are 3 exercises to get you started.
1. Develop good posture
The fundamental aspects of singing are related to a good posture which is essential for a healthy vocal production. When you sing, do you stay upright and relaxed? Are your feet hip-width apart? Do you keep your chest up and your shoulders back but loose? If you always answered ‘yes’, you already have the proper posture for singing. You also have one of the keys to good breathing technique if your ribcage expands evenly as you inhale, rather than lifting your shoulders or bulging your abdomen.
If you want to improve your posture, do the following: Stand with your feet parallel and hip-width apart and your arms hanging comfortably at your sides. Keeping your arms straight, raise them above your head in a circular path and stand on your toes as you take a deep breath.
2. Improve respiratory support
Take a deep breath, then exhale with a soft, steady hiss, like a snake, while keeping your ribcage expanded. As you run out of air, slowly lower your arms back to the starting position and return your feet to the floor, trying not to move your chest and shoulders from the position they were in at the top of the stretch.
Finish by taking a deep breath in one more time and then exhaling normally. By repeating this exercise daily, you will strengthen the muscles around your chest cavity and help you sound better and increase your stamina.
3. Feel where your vocal placement is
Good vocal placement increases the quality of your voice. Although the sinuses, mouth, and nasal cavity are not necessarily the sources of vocal resonance, it can be felt in those areas and in the facial area that would be covered by a face mask. Feeling vibrations in these areas is associated with excellent vocal placement, resulting in a freer and more powerful voice.
The expression “singing into the mask” derives from this sensation, which you can feel by taking a deep breath and sliding from the top of your range to the bottom using the sounds “woo” or “wee”, as if you were yawning. When done correctly, you will feel vibrations on the roof of your mouth, in your nose, and behind your teeth.
Some people feel them elsewhere or not at all, even with a good location. If that’s the case for you, use other means to see if your voice is resonant and pure, such as recording yourself or having someone listen to you.
Keep practicing these basics and you’ll be on your way to learning to sing like a pro!