Singing Techniques, Rehearsals & Skill Development

I take singing lessons at least once a week which entail working on and practising a varied amount of different
musical pieces from classical to musical theatre in order to have a different variety of genres when singing.
This also will broaden my knowledge of the different kinds of music I could experiment with. In order to develop
my skills with singing further, it set myself a weekly warm up and well as warm ups to practise during the week,
in my own time. I looked into doing some research and read a few different books on warm ups and vocal
exercises in order to get a few of the best. During my warm ups, I must also take into consideration that I am a
soprano, so being able to reach the top notes is essential.
It is important that my body should be relaxed and warm for a good vocal warm up. My voice needs all the
supporting systems in my body to be released from tension, for example tight stomach muscles will prevent
the diaphragm from working effectively and my chest from expanding properly. If my shoulders are tense, they
inhibit the larynx from operating fully. My tongue, palate and lips are all affected by a face and jaw with is cold
or stiff. A vocal warm up includes releasing tension, warming and exercising the face, breath control,
resonance, articulation and singing.

'Chew toffee' and move the mouth round

Yawn, or appear too, making the sound of the yawn quietly as well
Breathe in evenly through nose. Feel chest cavity expanding with my hands. Breathe out through
nose. Feel cavity contract. Repeat this several times.
Roll head gently. Raise and drop shoulders. Gently shake out to make sure my body doesn't become
stiff
Breathe in fully, as I breathe out I let out a series of 'huh' sounds
Breathe in and as I breathe out I hum quietly on one note. You should be able to feel the vibration
around your lips.
To find my optimum pitch I must first find my glottal fry the lowest note in my register. Then work up
the scale about three or four notes. This level is the optimum pitch. If you work in that register you will
feel more resonance.
Tongue twisters are helpful for articulation. It is best not to focus on them in a fast speed, but to
concentrate on articulating fully and resonantly, extending parts of the mouth to help the articulation.
E.g 'Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper
A peck of pickled pepper, Peter Piper picked.
If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper
Where's the peck of pickled pepper Peter Piper picked?'

After discovering these different ways of exercising and new ways of improving my warm ups before singing, I
wanted to learn more about why it is important to warm up and the purpose of them. The warm ups may
increase blood flow to muscles and other tissues, thin out thick secretions, and decrease use of excessive
muscular tension. Warm ups improve the performance of the individual muscles of the thorax (chest), larynx
and upper vocal tract (throat, mouth), as well as the coordination between the subsystems of voice production,
namely the lungs, larynx, and upper airway articulators. Every warm up routine contains a number of different
exercises to focus upon different muscles and different movements. Warm ups are hypothesized to improve
performance and to contribute to the prevention of injury. Many people are not aware of the fact that injury can
be caused to the vocal cords when they are not correctly warmed up. If a series of songs are sung that require
high notes, then severe injury can be a result of not warming up correctly. Of course, no singer wishes to attain
injuries, as it would mean that they cannot sing again until the vocal cords are healed. A singer is not only
prepared when they have undertaken warm ups, but they can also serve as a training method for the
achievement of an even more melodious voice. The pharynx can also be shaped and formed in the correct
way, when the warm up exercises are undertaken frequently. It is not simply a requirement that singers

undertakes warm up exercises before a performance. The exercises are primarily undertaken in order to
protect the singer's voices, as well as to preserve it. The importance of warming up exercises should not be
ignored. They are essential in maintaining the melodious voice of a singer.

As singing is a major part in my day to day life, I must surround myself with the theory and knowledge, not just
the practical side of things. The knowledge comes in use for times such as my singing exams, whether it is
classical or musical theatre, as well as in the future when auditioning. Knowledge is also important for safety.
To make sure I am singing in the correct way in each rehearsal I have, as well as out of rehearsal time, I
researched into ways of making sure I am singing properly and not damaging my vocal chords, or doing
anything that may prevent me from singing in the future.
Your voice is your bodies natural musical instrument. How you care for it will determine how long your voice
will last. Unlike a cheap, three-quarter student violin, you can't go out and buy yourself a new voice off the
shelf. Think of your voice as a priceless Stradivarius. Neglecting your voice can prolonged issues that may
damage you voice, reducing your ability and quality of your sound.
Ignoring to sing safely can cause dryness, soreness and throat irritations. Continued misuse of the voice may
lead to Laryngitis. Laryngitis is the swelling and inflammation of the larynx and is associated with swelling of
the vocal cords. Singing badly is not the only cause of Laryngitis. You may develop Laryngitis as a result of
infection after a cold or flue. This, unfortunately, in unavoidable.
Singing badly, screaming or shouting can lead to nodules on your vocal cords. Singing safely is really a case
of applying common sense to preserve your voice and maintain it's flawless use.

Don't sing if you have a sore throat. Often when we contract a cold or flu it travels to our throat. You
won't do yourself any good by singing through a cold or flu. Rest up. No pain, all gain is the saying I
use. With the voice, the associated pain is a result of swelling and inflammation.

Stay hydrated. Water is your best choice for fluid intake. Not too hot or cold. A hydrated body is a
healthy body. The trick is to drink small amounts of water ahead of time. It's not necessary to continue
drinking during a performance purely to lubricate your voice. If you are hydrated, your body will care
for you. If you are not accustomed to drinking water, make it part of your preparation three to four days
before a performance. Start with a little per day and gradually increase your water intake. Consult your
Doctor regarding how much water to consume for your individual health

Be aware of the ambient temperature. Avoid situations where you are exposed to extremes in
temperature

Take regular breaks. Pace yourself during rehearsal. Don't over practice. For more advice on practise,
click on the link to Practising Effectively. Arrive at rehearsals early and with your homework done. This
will save time singing over passages, again and again, causing tiredness

Avoid alcohol, caffeine, tobacco and antihistamines. These items all lead to a dry voice. Products such
as sprays don't solve the problem. When in a noisy environment, avoid yelling and shouting. If you
have a performance the next day it's wise to not put yourself in a situation where you may
inadvertently misuse your voice.

If you want to sing professionally, you must take care of your voice. Have regular health checks and if
possible, see a ENT specialist at least once a year. If you are developing any issues, action can be
taken to remedy any ill effect before it becomes a serious problem

In order to show my progress or to develop my progression, it is important I keep a log of some of my

rehearsals to make sure I am developing as each week passes. To show more of my skill development, I have
written out some of the techniques that I need to work on during singing lessons during the past few weeks.
Lesson 1: Cave in throat, unlock jaw, relax chin, (in front of mirror) more top resonance in yawning position,
make diaphragm more flexible, work of positioning of each note.
Lesson 2: Take time before beginning to sing, to poise myself, find the correct secure positioning: jaw down,
throat up, more soft and controlled voice.
Lesson 3: Lighter voice, practise getting scale faster and more staccato, use more of an 'ah' sound to a 'h'
sounds, make voice more rounded.
Lesson 4: Practise exercises 'te ee ah', no breath in between 9breath control), use creshendo, push
diaphragm more, use the accents.
Lesson 5: Work on 'ae' sound and vowel sounds, round voice more when singing higher notes, experiment
with vibrato.
Lesson 6: Tone must be even throughout, become more familiar with lyrics of song, use more breath control
over higher notes.
Simple Tips For Singing Practise:
Visualise the notes hitting the ceiling to get those high notes and the floor to get the low ones.
Try to 'project' your voice forwards and outwards by visualising the note reaching the back of the
room.
A bright, confident sound in your voice can be achieved by smiling.
This can be applied to any song with a strong emotional theme, the key is to relate to what the
songwriter is trying to express and using your natural emotions to enhance the way you perform the
song.