The Ultimate Guide to Vocal Training

Vocal training is a process of improving your singing voice by learning techniques. It also teaches you how to use your voice correctly in specific genres of music.

When starting vocal training, it’s important to know your voice type and range. This will help you focus your efforts and set realistic expectations.

Warming Up

Warming up is a key element of vocal training. It increases blood flow to your vocal folds and helps thin out any mucus secretions that may be in your throat or voice box.

The right warm up can also help you sing in a Mix of Chest Voice and Head Voice, which is essential for singing high notes. Vocal warm ups also help you flex your muscles to prepare for long singing/speaking passages.

Breathing

One of the most important aspects of vocal training is learning to breathe properly. It is often overlooked by singers, but it can make a huge difference in how well they sing and perform.

There are a few different breathing techniques that can be useful in improving your breath control. You can start by practicing diaphragmatic breathing exercises, where you lie on your back and breathe normally.

Posture

Developing the proper posture for singing is an important step in vocal training. It enhances breathing, allows for more efficient airflow, and improves your sound.

Getting your body to stand in the right position for singing isn’t difficult. It’s a process that needs to be done over time, though.

Singing on Pitch

Singing on pitch is a skill that takes time and practice to master. But it’s a great way to build up your vocal range.

Try playing a target note on your digital tuner or piano, then attempting to match it with your voice. This is known as auralizing, and it’s a very important part of musical hearing training.

Singing in Your Head Voice

Head voice is a technique that allows you to sing higher notes without straining your vocal cords. It’s one of the four vocal registers singers use, alongside chest, falsetto and mix.

When you sing in any register, specific muscles in your vocal tract and larynx adjust. They become thinner and more stretched, to produce the desired pitch sound.

Singing in Your Chest Voice

Chest voice is a vocal register that uses the larger, thicker vocal cords of your voice. It’s also called belting, and is a great way to develop more full, rich sounds.

Learning to sing in your chest voice can improve your singing and make you more confident in performing. Strengthening this range can also help you build coordination with your head voice, or falsetto voice.

Vocal Agility

Vocal agility is the ability to change notes quickly and easily. It is important for all types of singing.

In addition to enabling you to sing fast scales, vocal agility also improves your breath management and helps you build your voice. Agility is especially useful for classical music, but it can be beneficial in pop songs as well.

Singing in Rhythm

Rhythm is one of the most important aspects of singing. Learning to sing in rhythm can help you with your vocal training and improve your overall voice health.

Singing in rhythm can also help you relax your body and mind. It will reduce the levels of a stress hormone called cortisol in your bloodstream, and it will release endorphins, which are feel-good brain chemicals.

Singing in Chords

Singing in chords is an excellent way to practice your ear and develop your vocal training technique. It’s also great for improving your sense of timing and phrasing, two key areas that many singers struggle with.

To start, choose a simple song and sing the chords underneath the vocal training part. Give each chord a single strum while singing the vocal part.

Singing in Lead

Singing in lead is a technique that helps you to project your voice from the front of your body. This can be a great way to develop your vocal training technique, especially if you have trouble with high notes.

A good singing teacher will recommend age and character-appropriate music for you to learn on. Sheet music is important for all students because it allows you to practice your technique without the distraction of a performance.