October 5, 2020

About the Author: Stefan Joubert

Passionate manager of LSI. Discover your voice, regardless of age or talent. Contact now at enrol@londonsinginginstitute.co.uk to start your singing lessons in London or online!

You have of course heard the famous saying, ‘it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert at something’. This adds up to 3 hours of practice per day for 9 years and, if you’ve just started your beginner voice lessons for adults, you may not have that much time.

Your career or education, social life and family already take up a lot of your schedule, so you might be wondering if there are ways to help you speed up your progress. As experienced singing teachers in London, we have all the tips and tricks, so keep on reading to find out how to make the most of your singing practice routine.

Warm-up

You might be eager to dive straight into your practice or you may feel like you’re running against the clock, so you need to get to sing the most complicated songs right away. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Every time you practice, make sure to have a proper warm-up. Not only will this prevent damage and injury to your vocal cords, but it will also ensure your voice is prepared for what you’re asking it to do. There’s nothing more frustrating than being unable to perform the songs you know you can usually sing, and it can often be due to insufficient warm-up.

The secret is in the details

Who do you think is more likely to succeed – a singer who is practising the same song, all the way through, over and over again or the one who is focusing on the difficult sections, proper technique, breaths etc? This is something we refer to as deliberate practice in music, and it is, essentially, a more mindful way of practising that tends to separate amateurs from professionals. A true expert will identify the key areas they need to work on to improve their skill, and they will deliberately focus on them. So next time you practice, don’t just keep singing the song over and over again, think about what’s holding you back from performing it perfectly! Is it your tuning? Where you take your breaths? Transitioning from chest to head voice? Whatever it is, that is where your main focus should lie during each practice session.

Make the most of your time

Scheduling in your singing practice routine is a great idea! There are plenty of online tools and productivity apps that can help you do that, and you can also go old school and have a diary. Make sure you set aside as much regular practice time as you can, as consistency is key to success. But how can you maximise your time even more, when you’re not able to practice? While you’re going about your day, try listening to a podcast that talks about singing techniques or simply listen carefully to the songs you are practising, memorising the lyrics, intonations and singing techniques. This will help the next time you get to train.

Record yourself

It can be very difficult to objectively monitor your own progress. When you listen to someone else, it’s much easier to notice their mistakes, as well as the parts they sing really well. How can you create that same experience in your singing practice routine? The answer is, record yourself! We all have our own portable studio, aka our phone, at our disposal, so use it to your advantage. It can be daunting at first, especially when you hear some flat notes that make you want to bury your head in the sand and never record yourself again. But don’t let it discourage you. Try to think of it as if you’re your own teacher – maintain a cool, objective approach and, instead of focusing on mistakes, think about how you can work to improve them. Remember that even the greatest singers started somewhere, and this is an important part of your journey.

Write it down

While they may feel more informal, beginner voice lessons for adults are almost like being back at school or university. So, in order to make the most of your singing practise routine at home, be sure to write down or record vocal warm-ups and any tips and techniques you and your tutor have been focusing on. This way, you can refer back to them during your practice sessions and progress quicker in-between lessons. Writing things down also solidifies them in your memory.

Keep it simple

Great musicians are not defined by the complexity of their pieces but rather by being able to take something simple and make it sound incredible. As you progress, you will, of course, be able to sing more complex songs, expand your range and learn advanced techniques that will seriously impress you and others around you. But the beauty is often in simplicity, so don’t neglect the things that seem ‘simple’. Learn to sing the basics as well as you possibly can, and you will see the difference a solid foundation will make as you progress in singing.

Eliminate distractions

Always make sure to eliminate distractions – avoid looking at your phone, checking emails and doing other tasks when you practice. 20-30 minutes of focused practice is way more productive than an hour of singing where you are distracted by checking your phone every few minutes or talking to friends or family. If you live with others, try to make them aware, as nicely as possible, that this is your time to practice and you need the space to focus on it.

Reward yourself

Last but by no means least, be sure to reward yourself for sticking to your singing practice routine and staying consistent. This could be a favourite snack, an episode on Netflix, or an even bigger treat, for example, buying a vocal mic after months of regular practice. Always reward yourself for staying on track, as it will motivate you to push even harder. Think of how many people are not sticking to their goals or don’t bother developing themselves outside of work or education, so the fact you’re studying singing is amazing in itself!

Singing lessons in London for beginners

Even the most dedicated singers need a bit of guidance to practice effectively and progress quicker! At London Singing Institute, we offer beginner voice lessons for adults in a friendly, personalised environment, focusing on a versatile range of singing styles. We can teach you the proper technique, exercises and warm-ups that are used by your idols. There are so many mental and physical benefits to singing and we believe anyone can learn to do it! So why not book one of our voice lessons in London to find out for yourself.

Tags: How to practice singing, Singing practice tips, Tips to become a better singer

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Tags: How to practice singing, Singing practice tips, Tips to become a better singer