Singers: How should we practice?
In other words: practice certainly, but focus. So, just how should you practice singing?
Let me first tell you about this. It's worth thinking about, especially when it comes to muscle memory. Some years ago, I came across an excellent post in a roundabout way as you do, pulled in by its title:
You can see why can’t you? Learning rewires our brains. I was thinking of singing/performance. So I clicked the link to have a good read. (Tip - It's still a good read, even now.)
Funny how these things can pull together fragments of your life, personal and professional. I started thinking about my little daughter, Alice and the problems she had had with Leukodystrophy. But that's another story.
Soon I was deeply engrossed in fully understanding the important role myelination plays in our gradual acquisition of skills, thanks to Jason Shen’s clear explanations and diagrams.
But then, another pathway of understanding opened.
As a vocal teacher, I always advocate embracing new learning into the pattern, the timetable of life, visiting new vocal technique exercises, new repertoire, and new language patterns regularly and often enough so that it unwittingly creates a steady and firm pathway to becoming more skilled.
But - here’s a quote worth remembering: wise words…
Practice Makes Myelin, So Practise Carefully
In other words, don’t learn new skills badly. Jason isn’t talking about singing, you understand, but he may as well be. The same rules apply:
To improve your performance, you need to practise FREQUENTLY, and get lots of feedback so you practise CORRECTLY and enhance the right things.
I've created a useful playlist on my YouTube channel. I looked through my bank of teaching videos and threaded 5 of them potentially together as a playlist to look at the mindset behind how you should practice.
In addition to the introduction video above, over the next couple of weeks, I'll be boosting the playlist with content from my Technique Teaching archive, gathered to help unravel thoughts on the art of good vocal practising. At the point of writing this, the first 3 videos are there already. More coming!
Here's the proposed content for the playlist:
- Introduction
- How we practice
- How we learn to sing well
- Don't just sing through a song
- Paradoxically, don't think, FEEL!
- I repeat: Practice correctly, self-scrutinise and observe
If you're curious, hit the play button above and learn more. Subscribe to my YouTube channel if you like what I'm sharing - there will be more fresh content in the New Year.
If you're more of an aural learner, you can tune in to a short podcast and see if my ideas about how singers should go about practising really resonate with you.
Happy singing!
Grateful thanks on many levels to Jason Shen and Buffer for the original share in 2013!
Curious about singing basics? Let's get you started with the right learning tools.
Download my free need-to-know vocal essentials guide for singers, vocal technique principles simply explained.
Featured in Feedspot
Ranked #29 in their Top 60 Singing Blogs — a lovely recognition of our reflective approach to singing.
Stay connected with new events and all updates!
Work with me: I can help you along your vocal journey, teach you about technique, repertoire, and performance, and guide you towards more singing experiences.
Voice-works Study: July 2025
As the Voice-works year concludes, the July Study Weekend is set for action! Application for singers is now closed, but I would love to welcome observers to the event. There is something profound about witnessing another singer's journey in real-time. Observers are welcome to apply right up to 21st June. Just click the image for all the details.
Singing Basics Guide
Getting to grips with or making improvements to your singing and the methods to achieve progress are all far easier and more accessible than you think.
