SINGING TIPS

Singing Tips – Singing Techniques

Singing Tips For Singers.  Singing when done with correct singing techniques will help improve your singing voice. Here are a few tips to help you.

Are you singing through your nose? Sing an open vowel sound such as AH whilst pinching your nose.  Listen to how your tone sounds. Does it sound normal.  If it doesn’t or is difficult to do, then you are singing through your nose.

Open your mouth  Cradle your face in your hands and gently pull down so that your jaw opens more than usual.  Now try singing with your mouth in this position and see how much easier it feels to sing.

Lip Trills This is where you blow air through your lips as if you were mimicking a horse or an engine noise. Brass players also use this technique to play their instruments.   It might take a bit of practice at first to get used to it, and that if you smile, you’ll lose it.   Yes I know  you feel stupid and that it tickles your nose, but it’s a fantastic way of keeping your larynx down and not straining your voice when practicing scales or even songs.  You will be amazed at how much higher your voice will be able to go.  Don’t believe me have a go.

Tongue Trills This is where your tongue rolls and vibrates against the back of your teeth, as if you were saying Brrrrrr on a cold day.   It may not come naturally to some people, and may take a bit of practice to get used to.  Its another gentle way of exercising your voice along higher notes without straining your voice.

Tongue Tension Does your tongue have too much tension?    Press your thumb up into the flesh behind the bone of your chin when you are singing.   It should feel soft and supple.   The base of your tongue is almost attached to your larynx, so if your tongue is tense, then your voice has to work harder.  Try to relax and open your mouth more when you sing.

How much air do I need? Try humming/singing through a straw.  Try not to let any air escape through your nose either.   This will give you an idea of how much air you really need to be able to sing.

Breathing Exercises 

To breathe properly for singing, you must breathe deep into the bottom portion of your lungs, engaging the diaphragm.

Let’s find your diaphragm. Place your hand on your tummy at the bottom of your rib cage. Now feel your hand gently move away from your tummy as you breathe in. (Watch you don’t use your stomach muscles to help you, or that you are lifting your shoulders!)This is the muscle we use when we sing correctly and this is how deeply we must breathe. Just to feel the difference (keeping your hand over your tummy) – now try breathing in as if you are sipping through a very large straw. Feel the whole of your lungs expand and how much more air you seem to have in your lungs. Now breathe out gently through your mouth.