How to Practice Singing

[Rasputin]

In singing, as in sports, the muscles needed for performing have to be exercised. For singing, you also need to develop a discriminating ear. Daily practice will give you the confidence to sing whenever the occasion arises.


Posture and Relaxation

Steps:

1.Make sure you are standing properly and without tension.

2.Do the exercises recommended in "How to Prepare Your Body for Singing."

Breathing

Steps:

1.Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths to prepare yourself mentally for singing.

2.Consult "How to Do Breathing Exercises" for help on how to breathe right.

Exercises

Steps:

1.Be alert and listen carefully.

2.Say, Ma-Me-Mi-Mo-Mu, letting your breath flow evenly.

3.Make the transition from speaking to singing on the sounds of Ma-Me-Mi-Mo-Mu as described in "How to Do Vocal Exercises."

4.Sing on just one note that is comfortable for your voice range.

5.Listen to evenness of tone, volume and pitch on that note.

6.Make the sound flow evenly in a "bow stroke": (Ma...Me...Mi...Mo...Mu...)

7.Continue with the exercise and find the sounds you enjoy most. Use those sounds as models for the rest.

8.Sing Ma-Me-Mi-Mo-Mu on five different notes within a small range up and down the scale. Starting on the note C, that would be Ma = C, Me = D, Mi = E, Mo = F, Muuuuu = G-F-E-D-C.

9.Try not to force the sound in any way. Don't waste breath; focus is what you're after.

[Rasputin]

Tips:

Imagine yourself as an orchestra tuning up. Your voice is your instrument. If your instrument is in good shape and your energy focused on the task at hand, your performance - with or without an audience - will most likely be a success.

Breathe deeply

Take deep breaths from your stomach, not your chest. Project your voice. You can practice breathing by lying down on the floor on your back and putting a book on your stomach. The book should move up and down as you breathe, and your ribs and chest should stay still.

Feel the song

When you're singing a song, it really helps to relate to the lyrics, even if you just pretend to. Know the song, what it's saying and what message it's portraying to the audience. Really feel your music!

[Rasputin]

How to Do Breathing Exercises

Singing requires a great deal of energy, and breathing for singing has more in common with athletics than with the tiny breaths of everyday life. You'll have to be aware of your breathing and practice it as you would practice any other skill you want to learn.


Exercise 1

Steps:

1. Imagine your lungs as a tire around your body expanding and contracting on the back and sides of your torso, not just the front.

2. Draw in a steady breath to the count of three.

3. Wait for a count of three. Think of your breath being suspended rather than held.

4. Allow your breath to flow out to the count of five.

5. Listen to the blowing breath.

6. Try to keep the flow of your breath even.

7. Wait for a slow count of three.

8. Repeat the exercise.


Exercise 2

Steps:

1. Lie down on a flat surface.

2. Slowly raise your right leg to an angle of 90 degrees.

3. Breathe in steadily, holding your position, to the count of three.

4. Lower your leg to the floor, breathing out slowly.

5. Repeat the exercise with your left leg raised.

6. Repeat the exercise raising both legs. Pulling in your abdomen will tighten and build up the muscles required for proper breathing.

7. Repeat the exercise five times.


Exercise 3

Steps:

1. Imagine entering a room. You see a letter on the table.

2. Pick up the letter and begin to read.

3. Act startled by a particular passage and exclaim, "Ah!" The swift breath you took before exclaiming is right for most singing.

[Rasputin]

How to Project Your Voice

Remember that by singing, you are drawing attention to yourself. To hold that attention, you will have to raise and sustain your voice beyond the level of everyday conversation. This does not mean just turning up the volume, but delivering with concentrated energy.


Exercises

Steps:

1. Learn the lyrics and the melody of a song you want to sing.

2. Sing that song in the vocal range that feels comfortable to you.

3. Think of attracting someone's attention without disturbing others.

4. Marshal all your forces and focus them mentally into one beam of sound.

5. Sing at moderate volume first, then as softly and beautifully as you can.

6. Send your voice forward like a beam of light that reaches the farthest seat in the gallery.

7. Color the note you are singing with your innermost feelings.

8. Launch your voice forward with a great burst of energy without forcing it. As soon as you feel discomfort in your throat, you are forcing it.

9. Allow the passion of the moment to direct your voice - don't just turn up the volume.


Tips:

Practice this exercise on a daily basis, and you'll see how concentrating on the emotions of the song will make you less self-conscious about your singing. Notice how this exercise builds your self-confidence.

[Rasputin]

How to Prepare Your Body for Singing

You must be poised, relaxed and in a receptive state of mind before you begin to sing. Here are some physical exercises to help you get rid of tension in your body.


Exercise 1

Steps:

1. Keep your legs straight, gently bend forward, and allow your arms and upper torso to drop toward the floor.

2. Relax. Let your arms dangle loosely and swing them back and forth through your legs to the count of 5.

3. Straighten your body until you are standing upright.

4. Bring your arms up and stretch toward the ceiling.

5. Hold the stretch for a moment, then relax back into a standing position.

6. Lower your arms slowly to the sides of your body.

7. Repeat the exercise three times.


Exercise 2

Steps:

1. Keep your head level and your neck still.

2. Bring your left shoulder forward, lift it and roll it backwards.

3. Repeat three times.

4. Repeat the exercise with your right shoulder.

5. Use both shoulders at once.


Exercise 3

Steps:

1. Draw your left hand into a tight ball and hold it for the count of 5.

2. Relax your hand.

3. Perform the exercise five times.

4. Repeat the exercise with your right hand.

5. Finally, repeat the exercise with both hands together five times.


Tips:

These exercises are useful not just for singing but also for releasing tension at the end of a long, hard day. Lie down on the floor. Tighten all your muscles for a slow count of 5, then suddenly release them. You will experience a very pleasant sense of floating.