Music and the artistic disciplines are a great example of a skill that seems to be dwindling in our land – working hard in a systematic way to achieve greatness. Singing requires a dedication to working out the muscles associated with singing – including your brain! The more you practice, the better you get.
Successful practice sessions follow a routine. I suggest drinking some hot tea or water prior to starting your session. Begin by choosing three to four warm-ups. Discuss with your teacher which ones are best. Each warm-up is designed to strengthen a specific skill. I suggest the “mees,” then the “nays,” then “yeahs,” then a warm-up chosen to help with your specific song. Make sure you warm up for a good 10-15 minutes – it’s like stretching your leg muscles before you run.
Next, practice your song. Make sure you are really clear on the notes of the melody before attempting working vocal technique. Then, work the song focusing on your breath, abdominal support, and resonance. Do this for a good five practice sessions (at least) before starting to interpret the song and add emotional feeling. You want to fully train your body on the physical aspects of the song, so you can really embrace the emotion when performing. Spend a month or more really perfecting a song if you plan on performing. Oh, and have fun!
