Technique

Practice Checklist

You know, you just can’t be the star you want to be if you don’t envision and carry out the steps to get there. Developing a regular, disciplined routine will minimize your practice time and maximize your results. This reproducible rehearsal checklist will help you set goals, clarify exercises and songs to practice, and make notes of other ways to improve day-by-day. Make adjustments as necessary but remember that short daily practice is far more beneficial than a once-a-week marathon session!

Superstar Singers Start Training While Young

Charlotte Church’s big break came at the age of 11 when she sang “Pie Jesu” on television in 1997.

by Earl Harville

We are seeing some fine examples of superstar singers who have become elite vocal athletes because of some fantastic vocal training starting at a young age—Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, Adam Lambert among others. It is a worthwhile investment to begin lessons with a child who has the love for singing coupled with a sense of focus and discipline. The teacher must have a great knowledge of vocal pedagogy and a personality that can provide a safe, nurturing environment for the young singer to embark on this great journey of singing study.

The Parts of Your Instrument, Part 2

The Parts of Your Instrument, Part 2: The Terms

It helps to know the parts of your instrument as teachers, books, this website, and others refer to them. Here are some terms you may encounter as you learn to be a better singer:

The Parts of Your Instrument, Part 1

Your Vocal Instrument, Part 1:
Phonation, Resonators, Articulators

Okay, don’t let these terms scare you right off the bat. This is going to be easy (and without a quiz at the end because you can always come back to this page when you need a refresher).

Since your voice is a musical instrument, let’s define the most basic parts of any musical instrument. All instruments, including your voice, are made up of three basic parts:

Record Your Best Vocals

There is a frustrating disconnect with many people who are great in live performance but can’t seem to get that same great vocal in the recording studio. Here are some tips to help you create the right atmosphere to bring your live sound into your recorded sound: