10 Suggestions to Improve Your Singing Voice

When we were babies, singing was one of the first vocalizations we made. We experimented with our voice in both sound and volume and it was only natural that we do. While at play, we hummed and sang made-up songs or songs taught to us by others. We were in pure innocent enjoyment of the sound and the feelings that music brings. However, somewhere along the way, many of us got the message that we couldn’t or shouldn’t sing and so we gave up that child-like pleasure.

I believe that we all can sing and, like any other activity, the more we do it the better we get at it. We may never become finalists on American Idol, but we can still derive pure joy from opening up our hearts and our throats to find our own individual voice. We may not sing on tune, but we can sing with happiness and confidence. Moreover, frequency can bring tunefulness. Another benefit of singing is that it teaches us to breathe better, to use our lungs more efficiently and strongly. It raises our endorphins. If we do it in harmony with others, it increases the harmony in the world, both literally and figuratively. Our postures improve, because we need to stand or sit straight in order to pull breath deep into our lungs.

I attend a women’s singing circle on and off throughout the year. Using the method of call and response, our leader teaches us songs from all over the globe. There is no outside performance attached to this circle, no reward for joining other than the pure pleasure from sharing a simple joy. We sing together because we want to. We sing rounds and 3-part harmonies. We work on improvisational songs and listen to each other practice parts.

By the end of the 6-week session, we have sung, laughed, danced and cried together. We have come to trust each other more and worry about our voices less, although our voices have improved too. I have heard women say, at the beginning of the session, that they haven’t sung with anyone since they were a child and I can see the fear in their eyes. Somehow, they found the courage to come to the session and by the end, they filled with happiness. For me, no matter how long my day was, I am always eager to get to singing circle. When I leave the circle at the end of the evening, I have difficulty going to sleep. I want to sing all night!

If you want to rediscover the childhood joy of singing, and want to find your voice again, here are a few suggestions:

1) Sing in the shower. We all know about this one. There is something about shower acoustics that make us all sound like rock stars, or maybe opera divas. Find your voice there, experimenting with different sounds until you discover your range of comfort: high notes, middle notes or low notes. This will help you find your natural speaking voice, also. You may not have been using one, all these years!

2) Sing in the car. See above.

3) Use a voice lesson CD. There are several good voice coach lessons available on CD. Buy one and practice in the car while driving. Almost everyone sings aloud in the car anyway, when traveling alone. Using a coach makes that private singing time even more enjoyable, while strengthening your voice. I use ‘The Ultimate Voice Training for Singers’ by Billy Purnell.

4) Research other how-to sites on-line. Read up on tips on the best posture and breath control. Posture and breath improve tone and pitch. It’s a fact that practicing this will improve your overall posture as well.

5) Talk to a local singing coach. Ask about taking a few private lessons. There will be a fee charged, but your singing ability (or perceived lack of ability) will not matter. After all, it’s lessons, right? You are there to learn and no one does it perfectly in the beginning (except children, who haven’t learned to be self-conscious yet).

6) Join your local church choir. If your church choir has tuneful requirements that you can’t meet at this time, practice singing with the congregation during services. There are so many denominational and non-denominational groups to choose from these days, you might find one just right for you. My mother often told me the best part of church was the music. So, make a joyful noise!

7) Have a sing-along party in your home. As you grow more confident in your skill, rent or buy a karaoke machine and invite your friends to your home for a sing-along. If you are still not sure how well you can carry a tune, make sure to invite only your closest friends, so that your voice can’t drive them away. They love you; they will find a way to forgive you for missed notes!

8) Sing to and along with your children. As I’ve said before, children are not self-conscious and won’t mind if you sing off-key. Enthusiasm counts for more than anything else does. If you don’t have children of your own, ask a friend if you can sing with theirs. The parents get a break and you get non-judgmental singing partners!

9) Think of yourself as a singer. To paraphrase, “Singers sing, always”. Watch out for negative self-talk. Practice singing whenever and wherever you have the opportunity. Tell people that you are singing and ask for support and encouragement.

10) Have fun and learn to laugh at yourself. You won’t do this perfectly. No one does. So have fun with it. Get a little goofy. Sing songs from your childhood and make nonsense noises. You may want to do this privately, though…

With practice, you will find pleasure and even unbridled joy in the sound of your voice. I believe if we learn to sing together, there will be less strife in the world. Harmony breeds harmony. Perhaps the President should begin all meetings by leading foreign dignitaries in a good sing-along! They might get more accomplished that way.