We all sing sometimes, either in the car with the radio or in the shower holding the shampoo bottle like it is the most luxuries microphone a superstar can have! But did you know that if you practice singing long-term without the correct guidance, it can actually hurt your health? We don’t that to happen so we put down a list for you with the 5 most common mistakes vocal students do, and tips on how to avoid them. Read on!
1. Body Position– The position affects your singing more than you’d think. Slugged shoulders and curved back are an invitation to bad breath support and can make it harder for you to sing and practice as you will feel exhausted and out of breath easily. When practicing and performing, it is important to stand with a straight back, and shoulders high in reference to your body. By standing correctly, you will open your rib cage and allow a greater breath capacity and a smoother air stream that will help you make the best out of your vocals abilities.
2. Choose The Right Music– At times, singers choose songs they like but not necessarily suit their voice. Each person’s set of vocals is different, and as such, vocal students need to choose songs that can show their own range, timber, and capabilities while having fun a learning it!
3. Singing On The Throat– By that, we mean putting pressure on your throat and vocal cords while singing. Doing so can lead to throat health problems and we don’t want that! When you feel pressure in your throat- or tightness in you jaws- it’s an indication that you need to open your throat. Start with yawny feeling to lower the back of the tongue and lift the soft palate. This will allow you to better connect with your body and sing more freely as throughout your practice or your performance.
4. Head Voice/Falsetto– Knowing how and when to sing with your head voice is an important part of your vocal health. While the head-voice is sometimes more comfortable to use, it is essential to develop your vocal technique which includes resonance, power, and range. Learning how to bridge your chest voice and head voice will also increase your repertoire.
5. Finding The Right Voice Teacher– Whether you are looking to have voice lessons as a habit, or you are in the search to begin a professional career as a singer, your vocal teacher should be someone that helps you feel relaxed and feel like the voice is flowing from throughout your body and out to the audience. Pushing from the chest and try to push up the chest-voice is dangerous as it puts too much strain on the throat. Find a teacher that will help you develop your range and balance your registers. Quick tip: Leaving a voice lesson with a sore throat is a sign that something needs to be changed.
Singing and voice training is very individual, and everybody is different- no two bodies are alike. That is why it’s recommended to work through these issues with a professional vocal coach that will guide you through your voice journey to become a singer and to make sure you reach your goals while having fun and without hurting yourself!
Check out our voice teachers Celeste and Everett! Click here to book your free tour at On Stage Music Academy- Music Lessons in Long Beach!