Vocal Technique

I am always trying to improve my vocal technique. This year, I joined the Newburyport Choral Society. It is a choir of about 100 people and we sing large-scale choral works. I really enjoy it because it makes me feel like I am contributing to something bigger than myself. Also, it makes me practice difficult music and it is a challenge for me. I feel accomplished as a singer when I can accurately sing a difficult passage of music! You can learn more about the NCS here.

As a choral singer, I have been working on my technique. One technique that I have been practicing is breathing - yes, still. After all of my years as a singer, breathing is still something that I work on regularly. Recently, I have been working on moving my air forward while I'm singing to add dimension and direction to the phrases. I have to budget my air to make sure I get through the phrase without running out of air, but also, I have to use my air in a way that is optimal for the phrasing of the passage. To practice this, I mark the dynamics or phrases in my music with a pencil. Then, I sing the whole passage on a neutral syllable like "ooh" or "ah" to practice the phrasing and budgeting my air. Lastly, I sing through the phrase with the correct text, keeping in mind the feelings and techniques that I practiced with the neutral syllable. Of course, it depends on the piece of music I'm learning, but that is a way that I like to practice breathing and phrasing.

My advice for young singers is to always keep your breathing in mind. Take deep, good-quality breaths and budget your air for singing. Proper vocal alignment is key! Making sure that you're standing up tall and that your body is free of tension is a great way to make sure that you are getting the most out of your air. I have many nuggets of wisdom that I share with my students about breathing, but that is my main piece of advice! Comment below and tell me what techniques you are working on!