Description:
Congratulations on completing your first singing lesson with me! Here are a few frequently asked questions to help guide your singing practice moving forward.
- How do I practice my singing and get better?
Singing is both a physical and mental skill, so just like practicing a sport, it takes both time and quality practice to develop your skills! If you want a more detailed introduction to singing I encourage you to go through our beginner courses. Improve your technique with daily vocal exercise and improve as a singer by practicing real songs. Technique is important, but it’s always in service of making songs easier to sing. We have a whole library of vocal technique lessons that will prepare you to sing your favorite songs.
- Why do I need to warm up?
Because your singing range is much wider than your speaking range and much like athletes we need to make sure our muscles are loose and functioning correctly before jumping right into anything at full intensity. Check out our warm up section for the best vocal exercises to get your voice ready for a great performance.
- How long should my warmup be?
A good beginner warmup can be 5 to 15 minutes long. Over time, you’ll start to develop a feel for when your voice is “warmed up”, and when you might need a little more time. Generally speaking, a morning warm up may take longer than an afternoon warmup, simply because you haven’t used your voice much.
- How long should my practice session be?
Most beginners do well with about 20-30 minutes of practice. Of course, you can sing for longer if you’re feeling good and want to continue. But a shorter session is easier to do consistently, and when it comes to singing, consistency is more important than duration. Several 10-minute practice sessions throughout the week is preferable to one marathon session, not only because your voice can become fatigued, but also because it’s important to repeat the new coordinations you’re learning, making them become more automatic over time.
- How often should I practice?
Daily practice is ideal! Many singers, however, take a rest day. If you can commit to every other day, that’s awesome, too. Again, consistency in short bursts is the goal.
- After warming up, what do I do?
I encourage you to sing through a song or work on part of a song in the majority of your practice sessions! You might also consider watching a new voice lesson video (we have hundreds to choose from here on the site), repeating an exercise for a skill you’re currently developing, doing some ear training, or listening & analyzing a new piece of music. What I want you to avoid is only doing exercises and never singing actual songs!
- How do I keep my voice healthy, and what do I do if I’m sick?
Prioritize hydration! Your vocal folds function best when they’re hydrated, and it actually takes time for that to happen, which is why singers drink water round the clock (not just when they’re singing). Warm up at the start of your practice, and consider a “cooldown” if you’re feeling fatigued or did a lot of singing. That can be as simple as ending the way you began, with some gentle humming or lip trills to help “cool down” and “reset” your voice.
If you’re sick with a sore throat, rest your voice as much as possible - that means as little singing and talking as you can get away with! A hoarse voice usually means swollen vocal folds, and swelling goes down faster when your voice isn’t in use. It’s ideal to rest completely and sing again when you’re feeling well!
I'm so glad you joined me for your first lesson at 30 Day Singer! This is just the beginning and I can't wait to see the progress you make!
Lessons:
Instructor: Abram Poliakoff
Abram Poliakoff is a singer, guitarist, pianist, teacher, conductor, and composer. He received a Bachelors of Music in Vocal Arts from USC’s Thornton School of Music and has been teaching music for 8 years. He is currently both the Associate Artistic Director and a tenor in the L.A. Choral Lab, which recently released its first studio album Sonic Visions in the fall of 2019. Abram teaches and performs a wide range of genres including Classical, Jazz, Folk and Popular music in the Los Angeles area. He has also sung with the San Francisco Opera and Pocket Opera in the Bay Area. His teaching mission is to help his students utilize vocal technique to find their authentic and healthy voice while maximizing genre flexibility and a naturalness of expression.