Why Your Singing Practice Isn’t Working (And How to Fix It)

Are you spending hundreds of hours practicing your voice — but still not improving?
You’re not alone. After coaching hundreds of adult singers, I’ve discovered the most common reasons why practice fails — and, more importantly, how to fix it.

If you’ve been putting in effort and hours but aren’t seeing results, it can be incredibly frustrating. But here’s the truth:
It’s not how much you practice that matters — it’s how you practice.
And since we’re all short on time, it’s crucial that every minute of practice actually counts.

1. You’re Practicing the Wrong Things

This is the number one reason singers don’t improve.
Many adults jump into training on their own — doing random vocal exercises, watching disconnected YouTube videos, and hoping for the best.

But singing exercises are not one-size-fits-all.
If you practice exercises that aren’t suited to your voice, you can actually make things worse. Instead of training your voice, you’re reinforcing bad habits.

It’s the same when you sing songs that are far beyond your current level — you might think you’re challenging yourself, but you could be setting your voice back.

The Fix: Get Specific

Before every practice, ask yourself:

• What do I want to improve today?

• How is my voice feeling right now?

Once you know your goal, you can choose exercises that directly support it. That’s what I teach inside The Functional Singer Method — a structured system that helps you understand how your voice works, how to select the right exercises, and how to progress safely and efficiently.

When you train functionally, you become more independent and confident as a singer — instead of relying forever on external guidance.

2. You’re Ignoring Your Body and Brain

This one ties into the first point.
Many singers adopt a “no pain, no gain” mindset and try to force their voice. But singing doesn’t work that way.

You can’t sing well if your body doesn’t feel safe.
If you’re tense, hungry, angry, or anxious, your nervous system is in a state of alarm — and that completely shuts down your ability to learn and coordinate your voice properly.

The Fix: Listen to Your Body

If you feel off — take a moment.
Drink water, breathe deeply, and reconnect to your body.

In my coaching, every practice session starts with a short grounding process — one to ten minutes of simply sensing your body, your breathing, and your voice.
This helps you tune in and know what your body needs before you sing.

When you ignore your body’s signals, you end up reinforcing bad habits because you’re singing from a state of tension or “fight or flight.”
Remember — singing is about rewiring habits, not forcing results.

If you’re interested in learning this kind of mindful, body-based approach to singing, you can apply for my one-on-one program [link in description]. It could save you months (or even years) of trial and error.

3. You’re Practicing in Isolation — Without Feedback

This is especially common for adult singers who are self-taught or following online courses without personal guidance.

You might record yourself, but you don’t know what to listen for. You hear something’s off — but you don’t know why or how to fix it.
That’s because the voice is a result, not the cause. To improve the result, you have to understand and address the cause — what’s happening in your body and coordination.

The Fix: Seek Informed Feedback

Feedback from friends, partners, or parents usually isn’t reliable — even well-meaning comments can be deeply misleading.

You don’t need constant lessons to progress, but you do need someone qualified to observe your patterns and help you make targeted adjustments.
That could be a vocal coach, choir director, or an experienced singer working on similar skills.

In 'The Functional Singer - Foundations' program, students receive:

• Weekly one-on-one feedback

• Video check-ins throughout the week

• Continuous guidance to stay on track and avoid reinforcing bad habits

This consistent feedback loop helps singers progress faster and with more confidence.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve been stuck in your singing practice, remember:

1. Get specific about what you’re practicing.

2. Listen to your body — it always tells you the truth.

3. Don’t practice in isolation — seek informed feedback.

Singing is not about perfection; it’s about awareness, strategy, and consistent progress.
With the right structure and guidance, your voice can transform faster than you think.