From Hobbyist To Pro-Singer: 5 Non-Singing Things You MUST Do To Close The Gap
From Hobbyist To Pro-Singer: 5 Non-Singing Things You MUST Do To Close The Gap
Singing isn’t just about training your voice. Today, I’ll share five essential things every singer must do if they want to take their singing to the next level. This is not anymore about singing with the instrument you were given but about building the best one you can!
Singing is Holistic❤️
It’s important to understand that singing is a holistic experience, whether you realize it or not. Your vocal system is influenced by your entire body and mind. Just like an instrument, if you don’t take care of the whole system in a way that’s functional for singing, you’ll never fully utilize your voice. Imagine having a guitar with old strings and a damaged bridge—it won’t sound its best. Similarly, as singers, we have a living, dynamic instrument that changes constantly, so caring for it holistically is crucial.
Let’s explore the five essential things every singer needs to focus on:
1. Prioritize Quality Sleep
Everyone talks about the importance of sleep, but not everyone makes the most of it. Sleep is vital for singing because you need to be in a state where you feel safe and relaxed. Without enough rest, your body is in a heightened state of alertness, which can negatively impact your vocal technique. Your throat tends to close up when you’re not well-rested, which is something we definitely want to avoid.
If you struggle with sleep, there are many ways to improve it. I am one of those people who struggles with it! In my case, I aim to stay away from sleeping pills so things like going to bed at a consistent bedtime, taking magnesium supplements, and melatonin, using anti-blue light glasses, etc, have helped me a lot.
2. Manage Your Stress Levels
Keeping stress under control is essential for singing. To achieve a healthy and functional vocal system, it’s crucial to shift into a relaxed, parasympathetic state. When your body is relaxed, your vocal cords can function optimally in singing mode. On the other hand, if you’re constantly in alert mode, your vocal cords won’t work efficiently. They just can’t! It is not FUNCTIONAL for your survival system (which takes priority over the singing system! I mean… if you’re dead you can’t sing anyway)
There are many strategies to manage stress: surrounding yourself with a positive environment, listening to calming music, incorporating moments of silence, exercising, eating well, and getting enough sleep. Managing stress is just as important as practicing vocal exercises if you want to make real progress.
3. Increase Your CO2 Tolerance
This tip isn’t as obvious but is incredibly important for singers. Increasing your tolerance to CO2 helps you develop a more resilient voice, especially in high-pressure situations like public performances. It also gives you a sensation of an open throat, allowing for better oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange. Proper oxygenation is vital for a healthy singing voice, so improving CO2 tolerance can make a big difference.
4. Maintain Muscle Balance
Singing is holistic, and your body’s overall muscle balance affects your voice. Poor posture caused by imbalances between your anterior and posterior muscles, or between your flexors and extensors, can impact your breathing, vocal coordination, and overall sound. Ensuring proper muscle balance and tonus (the state of muscle tension) is crucial for functional singing.
For singing, you need balanced muscle activation—not too relaxed, but not overly tense either. Proper muscle engagement will support your voice in the most functional way.
5. Prioritize Vocal Health
Vocal health is a challenge for many contemporary singers. I often hear from students who can’t sing more than a couple of songs without their voice feeling strained. A common culprit is smoking, which directly damages the membranes of the vocal cords. This can cause them to stop fully closing, forcing you to work harder and strain your voice.
It’s crucial to stay hydrated and avoid habits that harm your voice, like smoking, drinking alcohol, and consuming too much coffee. If you do consume these, try to drink plenty of water to compensate. Also, using a nebulizer with saline solution can provide quick hydration directly to your vocal cords.
Another critical aspect of vocal health is managing acid reflux. Singers are particularly prone to it due to the air pressure used when singing. Reflux can irritate your vocal cords and affect your sound, so it’s important to keep it under control.
By taking care of your voice, you create a strong foundation for effective vocal training.
Final Thoughts
These are the five key areas every singer should focus on. If you’re interested in learning more about functional singing techniques and holistic vocal health, join ‘The Functional Singer’!
Learn to sing with me!
Online training – ‘The Functional Singer’ (affordable and complete training in functional singing)
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I help people to develop their voice and singing from a holistic approach. I teach vocal lessons in person in Auckland, NZ, and online. Also stay tuned for my new online singing programs!❤️
My greatest passion has always been the voice, music and energy arts.
My personal and artistic journey has led me to understand that the voice and the body are fully connected, and that includes not only the physical body but also the mental, emotional and spiritual body.
Through holistic vocal training you not only learn to become a great singer while taking care of your voice, but you also improve your mental and physical wellbeing❤️
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