Elaina Robbins, Singer and Voice Teacher
This is part of a series of blog posts derived from my book, The Five-Minute Singer. You can view video versions of most of this information in the free introductory series to the Five-Minute Singer vocal program. If you haven’t yet read my article “What I Wish Singing Classes Near Me Taught about How Singing Works,” please read that before forging ahead. This article will make a lot more sense with that background information. Assuming you’ve read that article, you understand the process of optimal singing and know what it looks, feels, and sounds like. I now want to introduce my singing rules. These rules are, in a way, my biggest tips on how to become a better singer because they arise again and again when I teach voice lessons near me. They kind of apply to life as well, and you may have heard some of them in other situations already. 1 of 4 Tips on How to Become a Better Singer: If It Hurts, Don’t Do It! Imagine you’re running on a treadmill, and something is off. Your gait is wonky or you’re wearing the wrong shoes, and suddenly, your knee starts to hurt. Should you keep going? Well, if you do, you might end up with an injury. Pain is one of the body’s defenses, signaling a potential problem. Pain when you sing means the same thing. It’s a warning that you are hurting yourself and need to stop. So, say it with me: singing should not hurt! Singing should not even be uncomfortable! If singing hurts, feels uncomfortable, or even itches, you may be hurting yourself. Continuing without making adjustments can result in fatigue or, in the long term, vocal injury. When teaching voice lessons near me or via my online voice course, I always reiterate that healthy singing doesn’t just sound good—it feels good too. So, as you practice, stop anything that hurts. That’s one of the tips on how to become a better singer that will make the biggest difference for you. Take a step back and figure out the source of the problem. If singing hurts all the time, my course will empower you to learn to sing without pain. However, to rule out an underlying medical condition or existing injury, I highly recommend you see an ear nose and throat (ENT) doctor before attempting to learn how to sing. My online singing course is not a substitute for medical advice. 2 of 4 Tips on How to Become a Better Singer: It’s Hard to Make It Easy I got my Bachelor of Music at the University of Southern California, which has a beautiful Olympic-sized outdoor swimming pool. I started swimming laps while there. I knew how to swim, but I wasn’t all that good. At first, it was a real struggle. I constantly swallowed water and flailed around feeling stupid as other swimmers glided effortlessly past me. I was working twice as hard as they were and swimming so much slower! How embarrassing. But I didn’t give up, and over time, my stroke improved. As my swimming became more efficient, it also felt easier. I was going far faster but putting in far less effort. When teaching voice lessons near me, my students learn that improper singing likewise often feels like a struggle. You’re working really hard, straining and reaching but not really getting anywhere. Conversely, when you get it right and everything runs in a streamlined, efficient way, singing actually feels easy. This can be pretty counterintuitive and even feel wrong at first, but in many cases, the better you are at something, the less effort it takes. The problem is, it’s hard to get to that point when swimming (or singing) is easy. It takes a lot of work! That’s why it’s hard to make it easy. As far as tips on how to become a better singer, it’s easier said than done, but it’s so important to know singing shouldn’t feel like a fight. When your technique starts lining up and suddenly all that muscular effort sloughs away, it often comes as an enormous relief. You’ll find that as you develop better habits, the laborious feeling evaporates. 3 of 4 Tips on How to Become a Better Singer: Control What You Can Control Singing involves many moving parts, and it’s impossible to fix everything at once. If you try, you’ll just get frustrated. So don’t try! Instead, one of the best tips on how to become a better singer I can share is to just control what you can control. For example, even when taking voice lessons near me, you can’t guarantee that your high note sounds perfect. That would be nice, but it just isn’t possible. However, as your knowledge and control of the vocal instrument improve, you can drop your lower jaw and rest your tongue in the front of your mouth as you approach the note. You can breathe well and then actively support the high note. Many times, controlling what you can control gets you the result you couldn’t control in the first place. 4 of 4 Tips on How to Become a Better Singer: Progress, Not Perfection The old saying “practice makes perfect” is a big, fat lie. Sorry! I hate to tell you this, but no amount of practice results in perfection. I’m certainly not perfect, and neither is anyone else, even if they seem perfect. But even if perfection isn’t possible, progress is! Many singers taking voice lessons near me falter when they can’t fix a problem right away (trust me, I’ve been there). But just because an issue doesn’t easily resolve itself doesn’t mean you aren’t improving. This is one of those tips on how to become a better singer that is more mental than physical. Be diligent and creative, and you will absolutely improve. And remember: singing is an art form, and perfection isn’t the goal. At risk of sounding cheesy, the singularities and little idiosyncrasies of great performers are part of their success. Get More Tips on How to Become a Better Singer by Taking Voice Lessons Near Me or an Online Vocal Training Course Learning to sing is unfortunately a lot more complicated than simply reading tips on how to become a better singer. It takes a real, dedicated effort and a change of perspective, and I’d love to help you achieve that. You can take voice lessons near me if you’re local. If you’re too busy or don’t have the budget for Fort Wayne voice lessons, or if you simply live far away, consider my online vocal training course. Either way, I’d love to hear from you, and please continue reading this series of posts. Happy singing!
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