When do I start singing? We hear you ask. Well today we take you back to the fundamentals of sound and get your brain and voice engaged so you can learn any song you want and sing it well. There is nothing worse than being a one talent hack when it comes to singing. If you want to take your voice to its full potential and see how far you can go as a performer then one song just isn’t going to cut it! Instead getting the technique correct so you can sing any song in any style you like is going to benefit you far more. So get ready for today’s lesson on making your vocal instrument work for you!
How do I make my voice work for me?
When you study singing, you may hear about a variety of voice problems that require you to understand vocal anatomy, such as a high larynx, vocal cord tension, or excess air pushing through the vocal cords.
It’s natural to wonder how you can adjust your vocal cords when you can’t even see them, wiggle them, or feel that they’re there. Nonetheless, you do have some important clues as to how they’re functioning.
First and foremost, of course, is the sound of your voice. Clues may be whether your voice breaks at a certain place in your range, or whether it sounds deep, wooden, brassy, etc. Another clue is the place in your body that you feel your voice “coming” from. For example, your singing voice may feel as if comes from the area around your eyes or nose, while your speaking voice may feel as if it comes from your mouth. You should also feel physical vibrations when you sing, such as tingling in the area above your lips.
Last of all, you need to be wary if you feel tension in your face and throat. Although singing is a form of physical exertion, your face should not be scrunched up. Your head should be in a natural position, not craned up or tilted down. If you feel muscular tension in your neck, chin, or jaw, do some simple stretches—such as neck rolls, or pretending as if you were chewing a wad of bubblegum—to relax them.
Getting the Best Performance from Your Vocal Cords
Relaxation plays a key role in the optimal functioning of the vocal cords. Ever noticed that when you were at home singing away, your voice sounded great, but the minute you stepped in front of an audience, your heart pounding, skin clammy … that great voice fell all to pieces?
When you are tense, stressed, or trying too hard, your vocal cords suffer. Your breathing becomes less free and easy, and the air trying to leave your lungs has to fight its way free. As a result the air that eventually hits the vocal cords is concentrated and pressurized. The vocal cords react by locking up. It’s almost as if you’re choking your voice box.
You need to allow your vocal cords to open and close smoothly through their entire range of motion, without any strain or pressure. Do that by relaxing your body, getting rid of the tension, and eliminating any strain. Your voice will thank you.
Try this exercise: The next time you feel tension, take deep breaths and visualize opening and clearing a passage through to your voice and voice box.
BUT WHEN DO I GET TO START SINGING? We hear you ask. Producing a good sound with your voice is the result of good technique—not a result of a good song. For that reason, instead of starting you off singing songs, We’re going to take you right back to the fundamentals of sound.
The ultimate goal: is not to learn more songs, but to be able to sing any song in a voice that brings it to life!!!
Vocabulary Review
Amplitude- the height of a sound wave; corresponds to intensity, or volume
Articulators’- parts of the body that shape clear, understandable words
Frequency- the quickness with which waves follow one another; pitch
Hard palate- the hard, forward part of the roof of your mouth
Intensity- volume or loudness
Larynx – voice box
Pharynx – throat Pitch- how high or low a sound is; frequency
Resonators- the parts of the body that reinforce or dampen sound waves, depending on their frequencies
Soft palate- the back part of the roof of your mouth
Sound wave- a pattern of energy (or disturbance) that moves through air
Tone- the sound of a certain pitch, its quality; a note
Coming Up...
Good work, you have now successfully increased your theoretical knowledge and learnt how you can now use your voice as an instrument to your advantage. Keep a look out for our next lesson where you will learn to critique your voice so the likes of Simon Cowell don’t have to
Another Singorama Success Story!
Jennifer Punt
United States
I want to say THANK YOU for creating such an amazing system. I'm so impressed with the versatility of Singorma. It truly is made for beginners and advanced singers alike! I've been singing since childhood, but due to some negative experiences, I started to lack confidence in my singing ability and fear of performing started to creep in. Through the detailed vocal exercises and being able to hear my own voice, using the Mini Recording Studio, I've been able to make the necessary adjustments in my voice, improve my range, fine tune my pitch, and get back the confidence I needed. Thank you so much for bring back my joy in singing!