How to Improve Your Singing Voice: 6 Practical Habits.

1. Start With Proper Breathing

Good breathing is at the root of successful singing. It may seem simple and you may think that you don’t need to spend much time on it, but the fact is that shallow and improper breathing can seriously hamper your ability to maintain a consistent pitch, and therefore your overall ability to manage your voice.
It doesn’t matter whether you are just starting out or have been singing for several years, make it a habit to ensure that you are breathing in a consistent manner and that you keep your body relaxed. When you do, you will find that controlling your voice is much easier and that you don’t have to force it to produce sound.

2. Warm Up Before Singing

Before you start practicing, give your vocal chords some love with a gentle warm-up session. Try singing scales that are easy for your voice to produce, hum some notes or even do some lip trills to get warmed up.
This will get you ready for a proper vocal practice session, and ensure you don’t overtax your ability to produce certain sounds and pitches.

3. Practice Pitch Regularly

Regularly working on pitch will not only help you with pitch control but also help your understanding and awareness of pitch itself. If you don’t know which direction is higher and which is lower, that is okay — you’ll get there.
Sing a few basic notes or sequences and focus on reproducing pitches accurately. Once you get better with simpler notes, try wider intervals and work up to small melodies.

4. Avoid Forcing Your Voice

Don’t try to push for that power sound or belt out those high notes if they don’t come naturally. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to extend your range, just that forcing your voice can produce negative results.
If you find it difficult to sing at a high volume, lower the volume. If a certain pitch is uncomfortable for your vocal chords, don’t force yourself to sing that pitch. You will gradually learn to control your range and you may find that those out-of-reach notes become surprisingly within your abilities.

5. Record Your Practice

Using a recording device (your phone will do just fine) to capture your singing sessions will give you insight into what you do well, and the areas you need to work on. You may be surprised at what you pick up on by listening to yourself sing, and it can help you develop greater control and awareness of your voice. You may discover pitch issues you hadn’t picked up on, tension in your voice, breath problems, or poor pronunciation, but you’ll also have the opportunity to celebrate what goes well.

6. Practice Consistently

You may like to sign up for singing lessons, but the most important way to build up your voice and learn control is by singing regularly. Try to practice every day, or at least a few times a week.
The goal is to sing in short bursts, ideally 15 to 30 minute sessions at least a few times a week. You’ll achieve better results with more regular practice than with longer, rarer sessions. Make sure you pay close attention to your voice as you sing and listen to how each note sounds, how well you move between notes, and how your body responds as you sing louder or softer. You will learn to control your voice faster if you approach practicing consciously.

Progress Comes From the Right Habits

Singing isn’t all about having a naturally lovely sounding voice. It’s about learning how to control and use your voice effectively. With regular practice and a good understanding of basic techniques you will make steady progress, whether you are a novice or have been singing for years already.