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…
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…
It’s January, and that means it’s cold season! When you have a cold, often, it can seem like a bad idea to keep singing. Singers often cancel gigs because they have a cold. So should you stop singing if you have the sniffles? There’s a very simple rule with singing Read more…
In the theme of New Years resolutions, we’re taking a look at what makes practice good practice. Many musicians resolve to practice more, but that often falls by the wayside because they don’t have good practice habits. This post will give you three key principles for practicing that will make Read more…
January is that time when we all look at our post-Christmas selves and consider the improvements we could make to our lives. Us musicians are no different. We’re all making resolutions to practice for two hours a day and watch more operas. If you’re one of us, here are five Read more…
This is a re-post of an article I published last May. As it’s a New Year, I thought this might be a good time to share it again. No matter what it is you’re learning, setting yourself a target is essential. You need to know where you’re going to Read more…
Exam results are now trickling through, and I am among those who have not been delighted with the results. I was sitting a piano exam, and although nerves got the better of me, I thought I had done ok. Turns out, my pass was much more marginal than I had Read more…
One of the things that is often said in singing circles is that eating dairy products causes the body to produce more mucus and phlegm, so singers should avoid it on the day of performances. However, I was astonished to discover recently that this isn’t strictly true… Dairy does seem to Read more…