10 Tips On Learning to Sing as an Adult - Unlock Your Voice Today!
Singing is proven to be beneficial for both physical and mental health, and age is absolutely not a barrier to reaping these rewards for yourself. Whether you've always dreamed of singing on stage or simply want to improve your vocal skills, this blog post is here to guide you as you embark on your singing journey - see my 10 essential tips for learning to sing as an adult below.
10. Find A Qualified Vocal Coach
While it is completely possible to teach yourself to sing, it can often be difficult to stay motivated and hold yourself accountable when it comes to regular practice. The most effective ways to kickstart your singing journey is by working with a singing teacher.
As a professional vocal coach, I can assess your current skill level, provide personalized lessons, and help you progress at your own pace.
9. Practice Regularly
Consistent practice is key to improving your singing abilities. Little and often is the key - dedicate some time each day to vocal exercises, scales, and songs that challenge and expand your vocal range. If you feel your voice tiring, stop - there is always tomorrow!
See my ‘Productive Singing Practice Guide’ (Coming Soon!) for tips.
8. Warm Up (Yes, Every Time!)
Just like any other muscle, your vocal cords need a proper warm-up before you use them. Your voice is your instrument, and it must be treated with care and respect - though it can be tempting to skip to the fun part (the song), gentle humming, lip trills, and stretches can prevent strain and greatly enhance your singing performance.
For more on this, see Singing Warm-Ups - Where To Start?
7. Understand The Vocal Techniques
Take the time to read up and learn about proper breathing techniques, pitch control, and vocal resonance. While it’s easy enough follow an instruction given by your teacher, understanding WHY they are asking you to do it can hugely improve your awareness of your voice and any potential issues you may be facing.
See my article Vocal Essentials for All Singers for an in-depth look at vocal technique.
6. Choose Appropriate Songs
Identify artists you like that have a similar voice to you, and experiment with their songs to boost your confidence and make learning more enjoyable. As you grow in confidence and your voice gets stronger, branch out with songs you find harder and genres you haven’t yet explored.
Check out my handy guide to ‘Finding Your Vocal Range (The Easy Way)’ to help you pick your songs. (Coming Soon!)
5. Record Yourself (It's Painful, I Know!)
Recording and listening back to your singing practice, while sometimes unpleasant, is a hugely useful tool for you to assess your progress, identify areas for improvement, and track your journey over time.
Being aware of how your voice sounds to other people is an essential part of being a singer - often it really does sound much better than you think!
4. Join a Choir or Vocal Group
Singing with others is a fun and motivating way to grow your confidence, and helps to train your ear to better recognise pitch and harmony. Fellow singers can also provide useful knowledge and advice as you learn. If you haven’t already, consider joining a local group to start building your singing network.
For audition advice you can check out my article on How To Ace Singing Auditions. For recommendations of local groups to join please feel free to contact me here.
3. Stay Hydrated!
Proper hydration is crucial for maintaining vocal health. Water takes several hours to hit the vocal cords after being absorbed into the bloodstream, so drink plenty of water through the day (not just when you practice!) to keep your vocal cords lubricated.
Caffeine, alcohol and diary products can all have a negative effect on the voice, so try to avoid these prior to singing to get the best out of your voice.
2. Make Mistakes (and Lots of Them!)
Mistakes are a singer’s best friend - make them as loudly and confidently as possible. Go for broke when trying to hit that high note or nail that tricky riff - after all, what’s the worst that can happen? Being comfortable making a big and sometimes imperfect sound is the first step to unlocking vocal freedom.
Psychology is an enormous part in singing well - if you believe you can do it, the chances are you can!
1. Be Patient, and Persevere!
Finally, remember that learning to sing is a journey that requires patience and perseverance - it may take several years for you to fully reach your goals.
Celebrate every achievement, no matter how small. Finally hit that high note? Managed to sing that phrase in one breath? Give yourself a pat on the back, and remember that ultimately, you are singing because you love it.
Conclusion
Don't let age hold you back from pursuing your passion for singing. By following these 10 simple steps, you can unlock your true vocal potential and enjoy a fulfilling singing journey as an adult.
Why wait? Get in touch for a FREE consulation today and let your voice soar to new heights. Your dream of becoming a confident and skilled singer is just a lesson away!
Liked this article? Check out the rest of my blog for more useful singing tips!