Sing Better by Listening Better
When you begin learning any new skill, the more you expose yourself to its world, the better it is. If you want to speak a language fluently, you must read or watch more content in that language. If you want to be good at a sport, you must train every day, train not just your body but your mind.
If you want to sing well, you must venture into the world of music by listening more. Listening is not just an act of pleasure; it’s an act of learning and studying through precise observation & awareness.
Actively listen to great music
Training your ear is the first building block of learning music, be it theoretical or performance-based. When we listen to great compositions, we introduce new patterns to our brains. Closely observing the nuances in other singers’ voices, and looking for different musical elements can help us build our vocabulary & positively uplift our practice.
Musical elements that one can look for are:
Embellishments or Techniques - how does the singer use different vocal techniques to express the melody?
Emotional expression - how do they express the lyrics emotionally?
Dynamics - how loud or soft their voice gets?
Texture - what is the texture of the voice - breathy, edgy, or clear?
Resonance - Is the singer using head voice, chest voice or a mix of both?
Listen to your own voice
You are singing; you are not listening, my vocal coach, music teacher, and singer Abhijith Njaroli, pointed out the other day. It took me a few seconds to grasp what he meant.
Quite naturally, when you are singing, you listen to your voice. But, how immersively you listen to the notes weaving a pattern in the air defines how effortless & impactful your singing is. When we aim to sing well, we all follow certain steps. We engage our core, use techniques, and reach for the right note. Most of singers listen to their voices while recording in studios or even while performing live. That’s a useful method to have in the toolbox. But, if you listen to your voice with the right balance between technique and intuition. You will not just sing; you will listen.
Listening & enjoying your voice while letting the notes guide you to flow can do wonders. It’s a subtle exercise and you can only witness how it manifests when you practice.
Listen to the feedback
Feedback is what helps us course correct. Share your recordings with a teacher, expert or your friends and ask for constructive feedback. Objectively listen to what they have to say without your personal biases & aim to improve. Your audience gives you feedback all the time. Through words, body language, views, likes & comments. Lookout for feedback because we all can level up, no matter where we are. Just a quick note: you don’t need to listen to naysayers or insecure folks out in the world. Surround yourself with people who understand the lexicon of music and are invested in the best version of you.
#HappySinging #HappyLearning
