Learning your first song in a language other than your native tongue can be a daunting task. But, fear not! Here are some simple ideas to help you get started singing in foreign languages. Listen and Repeat When you’re working on a song in a foreign language, it is a Read more…
I’ve written before about SMART goals, but last year, I came across the idea of HARD goals, and it was a bit of a revelation. What are HARD goals? HARD goals are big goals. They’re not manageable, or realistic; instead, they’re: Heartfelt – something that you really want to achieve. Read more…
Practice can be daunting. Simply finding time and motivation is hard enough, but the biggest challenge is often the question of what to do when you finally start. Where should you start? And what should you do next? Rinse and Repeat All musicians fall into the trap of the “rinse-and-repeat” method of Read more…
The voice is fundamentally a wind instrument. We use air to make sound, rather than vibrating strings or hitting objects. However, when we’re trying to reach the high notes in our voice, it’s more helpful to think about a violin than a flute. When you want to make a high Read more…
I’ve had a cold this last week. It always feels ironic to say I’ve had a cold in May, but there you are. Times can be tough for singers when viruses run rampant through our respiratory system, making it hard to breath and sing. Here are some tips to help Read more…
Struggling to get back into the swing of practice after the Easter break? Here’s five ways to make your practice more effective. 1. Make a date Decide when you’re going to practice. Some people are routine practicers, but some of us need to plan it day by day. If you’re a Read more…
Many people come into singing and discover they don’t know how to breathe. Well. Kinda. For singing, you need a very specific kind of breath, one which makes use of your whole lung capacity on the way in, and which you can control as you breath out. There are lots Read more…
Finding the right choir for you can be tough, but as I’ve said before, joining a choir is a great way to improve your singing and musical skills. Here are five really important questions to ask yourself before you start looking at the myriad of options available. How Does the Read more…
Ever wondered how you should behave at the theatre? Well, here’s a beginners’ guide based on my most recent trip to the Edinburgh Playhouse… 1. The overture is just background music. It’s just there so that you don’t have to talk to your friends in a silent room Read more…
One of the most valuable things you can do as a singer is to join a choir. Why, you ask? Why should you give up another evening a week and a few weekends? Well, here are my top five reasons; 1. Meet other singers Singing can be a very solitary Read more…