If you’re one of those people who believes you can’t “carry a tune in a bucket,” it might surprise you to know that you’re likely wrong about this. The truth is, most people can learn how to sing well once they learn what they’re supposed to do and they devote enough time and practice to it. Certain skills and the right way to practice go a long way in helping you sing like the pros do, and most people accomplish this goal when they set their mind to it and never give up.
That being said, there are some factors that make learning to sing like a pro a little easier for you. Below are five things to keep in mind when you’re interested in learning how to sing like a pro.
1. Practice Where No One Can Hear You
In the beginning, one of your biggest mental roadblocks is that you won’t always sound that great when you sing, but instead of using this as an excuse not to practice, you should accept it as part of the process. After all, if you’re not willing to let yourself sound bad, you’ll never know what you need to do next to sound good.
Instead of becoming discouraged at how you sound in the beginning, choose a spot where no one can hear you sing and belt out the notes like you’re already a professional. Most people have to sound bad before they start sounding good, but you can’t improve your singing skills if you’re self-conscious about how you sound every time you practice. Practicing where no one can hear you is a good remedy for this.
2. You Have to Copy Your Favorite Singers – Not Your Favorite Songs
Whether you’re male or female, you should choose four to five singers of the same gender that you wish to sound like. Don’t mimic the songs you like, but the singers you like instead. After all, there are a lot of one-hit wonders out there, and while you might like the songs, trying to copy them won’t really teach you anything.
Instead, pay attention to the technique and overall sound of the singers you most want to sound like. Study them and listen to them as much as possible. In the beginning, don’t worry that you don’t sound like them. But try to copy them and learn as much as possible from them. Copying those singers who are already a success will teach you a lot about singing.
3. Practice Every Day for at Least a Little Bit
Practicing daily is the only way to become a better singer, but you also have to keep in mind that unlike people who play musical instruments, you can’t practice all day long. It’s just too difficult on your vocal cords. Instead, stick with a minimum of 30 minutes and a maximum of two hours per day. Many aspiring singers find that practicing one hour a day is just the right amount of time to improve continuously.
In case you’re wondering, you’ll have to do this even after you’re a successful singer. Why? Because the life of a professional musician includes practicing their skills daily, not just occasionally. Music is one of the things you’ll lose if you don’t use it on a continuous basis. Be prepared for daily practices from now on.
4. Never Sing Acapella
Let’s face it, most singers will never perform acapella, so why practice that way? Many wannabe singers practice without music so they can hear all of their flaws and to help them determine in what areas they need improvement. While it does do that, you’ll need the music to get a reference pitch to follow. If you don’t have that, your notes will be all over the place and won’t sound right.
Very few people have perfect pitch perception, especially in the beginning, so you’ll need that music to steer you in the right direction and help you learn how you’re going to sound each time you perform. Plus, you’ll be more used to performing with music once you finally get on the stage, so you might as well practice with music from the very beginning.
5. Develop an Appropriate Practice Routine
You not only have to practice your singing, but you also have to practice correctly. This means doing things such as breathing properly, developing a good warm-up routine to prepare your vocal cords, and even developing excellent posture. If you’re huffing and puffing in between phrases or running out of air in certain spots, it usually means you’re not breathing the right way.
Learn to take deep breaths through your diaphragm so that you can sing almost anything. Test yourself occasionally and see how long you can sing a steady note at a high volume. There are numerous other exercises you can do to improve your singing skills, but the point is to do these things every time you practice and aim to get better at them every time.
