How much practice

Welcome to Your Singing Course!

I really hope you're finding this course useful, that you're learning lots about singing, and that you're truly enjoying discovering what your voice can do. It's truly one of the most exciting journeys you can undertake!

Practice Plans

With the lessons, everything is designed with a practice plan in place. After we've learned a new concept, make sure to:

• Go to that practice plan
• Give yourself time to really sit with it
• Practice consistently

Over time, you will notice an increase in your skills.

Improving Your Singing

There are two key points to consider regarding your singing:

1. Improving Your Pitch:

   • This is achieved primarily through enhancing your ear.
   • However, it's mostly about improving your fine motor skills.

2. The Importance of Practice:

   • Practice is essential; it builds on your foundational skills.
   • It allows you to notice:
     • What's changing in your voice
     • What you find difficult
     • What you find easy

Foundational Skills

Each lesson has a practice plan, and some skills are foundational:

• Physical Posture and Alignment:
  • Essential for effective singing.
• Sirens:
  • Should be a fundamental part of your warm-up routine.
• Voice Fricatives:
  • Useful for various exercises.

Exercise Types

• Scaling Exercises:

  • Used for pitch differentiation.

• Staccato Exercises:

  • Help develop fine motor skills.

Recommended Routine

The foundation exercises I recommend are:

• Posture and Alignment
• Sirens

Always incorporate these into your routine and make sure to cool down after each session. For other exercises, feel free to mix and match. If you're working on something specific, apply relevant exercises to your songs.

For example:

• Five Note Scales:
  • "Da da da da da da da da da."
• Long Scale Exercises:
  • "Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah."

Progression matters; exercises are designed to help you move incrementally.

Making Practice Enjoyable

When you first start practicing, remember that it shouldn't feel like a chore.

It should support your learning!

As you progress as a singer, I hope you feel motivated to practice.

Helpful Tips

1. Keep a Singing Journal:

   • It doesn't have to be complicated. Use a notebook to write down your experiences.
   • For example:
     • "Today, this felt really easy."
     • "I've noticed improvement in my E sound, which feels a bit breathier."

   Start to notice what's going on in your own voice.

2. Make Practice Manageable:

   • Warming up doesn't require a lot of time; 10 minutes of sirens and scales is often enough, especially at this stage.

• Try to find time in your routine for daily practice. While three times a week is fine, remember:

  • Your progress often relates to how much you practice.
  • Keep it fun and realistic for your lifestyle.

Remember, there's no judgment about how often you practice. It's wonderful to support your learning with regular practice!