Learn How to Sing Properly

The key to learning how to sing properly is through regular practice. Contrary to popular belief, singing is a skill that you can learn, as long as you have the drive, the motivation, and the patience to work for your goal.

During your first two weeks of voice training, you might find the learning process daunting and frustrating. It may even be embarrassing sometimes, especially if your voice croaks in the middle of vocalization exercises. Soon, however, you will realize just how important it is to master and execute these techniques properly.

Of primary importance while learning how to sing is observing good posture. There are two reasons for this. First, maintaining good posture aids in regulation of breathing. Secondly, especially in beginner vocalists, it makes the performance of breathing exercises more efficient.

In this 21st century, wherein the music is characterized by dissonance and experimentation in vocal techniques and instrumentation, advance level voice techniques have been achieved through variations and manipulations of posture.

After understanding the basics of melody, vocal practice moves up to the next level, namely the singing of scales as a warm-up. Later, these scales are utilized in songs that are familiar to the singer, and, finally, doing scale improvisations over certain chords.

Ideally, you should practice one hour each day. But you can also achieve great progress with one hour practice 2 to 3 times a week.

Before you start a practice session, you must first have the perfect pitch as a guide. Most voice studies find this pitch through the use of a piano that has been turned to concert pitch. In the absence of a piano or similar instrument, you can use a pitch pipe or tuning fork. There are also CDs with recordings of the various pitches.

Next to pitch, you should also be conscious of your breathing, and not just the rhythm of your inhalations and exhalations. You should also have control over the muscles of your respiratory system.

There are various ways by which singers attempt to control the muscles of respiration. The most popular practice is by performing ascending and descending scale runs as a warm-up. Other, more controversial techniques include the use of oxygen tents and tanks, underwater exercises to increase lung capacity, and abstaining from harmful substances that may impact the larynx or lungs, such as smoking. Of course, not everyone will resort to these drastic and expensive measures.

Instead, simply practice by singing the three major groups of scales, namely major, minor and dominant seventh. Not only will you achieve breathing control, you will also gain greater familiarity of these scales. From here, you can proceed to basic chord theory and mode theory.

The techniques of chord theory will help you to determine the various chords in each key. On the other hand, mode theory focuses on the many patterns that can be utilized to adapt the scales to various keys. One way chord theory is applied is during practice of the three basic scales, wherein you incorporate these scales into the chord structures of the many different music genres.

This stage of improvisation will enable you to sing various types of music, while maintaining rhythm and pitch, and sustaining notes. Once you have mastered the techniques of improvisation, you can now move on to harmonizing with other singers.

While it is exciting to finally learn how to sing, you will still need to develop senses of core melody and core pitch. This can be achieved by learning stave music theory.

True, there are a lot of things that you need to learn aside from the basic singing techniques. However, it is only through understanding music theory that you can truly value the various elements behind this performing art. With patience and constant practice, you will soon find yourself singing professionally.