It starts with passion.

For some, singing is communicating at a very deep and personal level. Where mere words fail them, music inspires them. And for them, it’s not until they begin vocalizing that they feel they are truly expressing themselves and being heard.

So, you have the passion.

You want to be a singer.

Now what?

You’re ready to learn all about how to become a singer. Someone who touches others through the power of music using your voice as a potent instrument.

Technically, anyone who sings is a singer. But, we are all at different levels. So, instead of focusing on how to become a singer, start by asking, “How do I take my singing to the next level?”

Singing is best viewed in terms of progression. And progression is all about the journey not the destination.

So, begin where you are today and be honest about what “level” you are currently at. Focusing on where you want to end up can be a good motivator at first, but if you’re not careful, you’ll end up merely frustrating yourself.

Instead of working on where you are, your mindset will instead shift to where you long to be. This is dangerous because first of all, you’re setting an expectation for yourself before figuring out who you are as a vocalist. Also, it can create resentment toward the amount of time it takes to get there.

If you rush through the process, you’ll never really understand it and most likely, will end up dismissing your desire to become a better singer because you just couldn’t “get it.”

So take it a level at a time.

You know, sometimes we make “singing” more complicated than it needs to be.

Recapture that joy of singing just because you loved to sing. Think back to when you were a kid and a favorite song came on. What did you do? You sang along! You didn’t think, “Is my tone in the right ‘place’?” “Should I be in my chest voice right now?” “Am I breathing right?” For goodness sake! But, at some point along the way, a little “singing editor” found it’s way into our head. And suddenly, it wasn’t so much what we thought about our singing that mattered, but what others thought. Did we measure up to what was considered “good”?

We took what was once a love stemming from a place of innocence and turned it into some overly complicated, intensely analyzed, super-concentrated, make-your-head-spin concept.

So we spend time trying to achieve an elusive goal of meeting a standard that is set by other people and living up to their singing expectations.

So, why do we want to be singers?

It’s a calling.

It completes us and is part of what defines us.

It brings fulfillment and a sense of purpose.

It brings us joy.

Desiring to better oneself is a commendable trait. Just because you want to be a singer doesn’t necessarily mean it needs to be your career. Many find satisfaction in calling singing their hobby and others simply enjoy karaoke. Maybe you sing in a choir, or perform in community musical theatre or help lead worship at your church. Or, maybe this is your desired profession of choice. You want to create an EP, or sign a record deal, tour with a band or be known as a recording artist. Wherever your heart lies, know that there are definite, tangible steps you can make to develop as a vocalist.

For starters, establish a firm, solid technical foundation as a singer.

Is this where you want to be?

Working on your technique is the crucial first step to becoming a better singer. It allows you to really understand your voice and what it’s capable of. As you work on your technique, you’ll learn how to do the things many beginning vocalists long for: increasing your range, hitting those high notes while still singing with ease, developing your vibrato, transitioning seamlessly from the bottom of your range to the top, singing with a good, sonic presentation, etc.

From there, you can move toward introducing various elements of style into your song delivery. This involves adding the little vocal tricks that make singing fun and take it to the next level: vocal licks, trills and runs, note bends, vowel manipulation, drop-offs, effective phrasing.

Vocal embellishments are fun to do, but you want to remain tasteful with your choices: know when to do them, but even more importantly when not to.

Having a competent and well-respected vocal coach is crucial to your progression. Your coach will give you a variety of exercises to help build and strengthen your vocal coordination. Also, they can give you valuable feedback by giving you an honest assessment of your voice, answering questions, and helping you build confidence as a vocalist.

Also, remember, becoming a singer is not just about singing. Songwriting is a huge component. As you write, you’ll uncover your passions and really hone in on the causes or subject matters that compel you to sing in the first place. As you progress, you will figure out who you are as an artist and discover the genres that best suit your voice or type of singing you enjoy.

So, still interested in taking your singing to the next level?

Good.

Let’s get going.