Beginning singers/vocalists face many challenges in developing vocal qualities (singing) that both they and their audience enjoy. Here are the top five technique challenges the beginning vocalists face. In the discussion below, find out why these aren’t the biggest challenge faced by the beginner!!

Breath Control: One of the fundamental aspects of singing is learning how to control your breath. Good breath control allows a singer to hold notes for the right length of time, sing loudly or softly as required, and maintain a steady pitch. However, proper breathing techniques for singing, which involve using the diaphragm more than in regular breathing, can be difficult to master for beginners.

Pitch Accuracy: Hitting the right notes consistently is a challenge for many new singers. This is a skill that involves both the ear, to hear the pitch correctly, and the voice, to produce it accurately. Beginners often struggle with singing in tune, especially when trying to hit higher or lower notes that are at the extremes of their vocal range.

Tone Quality: Every person’s voice has a unique sound, or tone. Beginners often struggle with developing a clear, pleasing tone. This can be due to a number of factors, including tension in the throat or jaw, lack of breath support, or simply not knowing how to use the resonant spaces in the body to enhance the sound.

Vocal Range: Many beginner singers find it challenging to sing comfortably and confidently across their entire vocal range. Lower or higher notes may sound weak or strained. This is often a result of not having fully developed the necessary vocal techniques and strength. With  the right training, a singer can expand and improve their range.

Performance Anxiety: Singing in front of others can be daunting, and performance anxiety is a common challenge for beginning singers. This can lead to physical symptoms like a shaky voice or shortness of breath, and can also affect a singer’s ability to convey emotion and connect with the audience.

The above are the technical challenges; however, most beginners, and it’s sad to say, intermediate and advanced singers, think that singing well is based on some arcane piece of knowledge. Singing science is evolving, and you need to consult the most up-to-date references and teaching resources to tell and show you how to do implement best practices that will get you where you want to be as a singer.

And that is true to an extent that the right knowledge simplifies singing tremendously, but there’s a bigger challenge. Singing is a physical activity. You can know exactly how to be able to sing by reading a good book on vocal technique; however, most people can’t translate that knowledge into good singing. Why?  It is based on the fallacy that singing is knowledge. You need certain knowledge to be able to sing, but singing is a learned physical activity—you must develop that physical ability!

One of the paradoxes is that one of the abilities you must develop to become a good singer is a high level of ear training. If you don’t have a trained ear, it is extremely frustrating to try and determine if you are singing on pitch (the right note in the right octave). There are ways to deal with this; for example using a pitch matching app, but the quality of apps often leaves the beginner as or more frustrated than when they started.

FRUSTRATION IS THE GREATEST CHALLENGE THE SINGER FACES. Unless you have someone who can carefully walk you through the singing process, singing can be very frustrating and frustration with technical ability is the number one reason that people quit singing.

At Peak Music, we are very careful to work with motivational factors and emotional support for our singers, regardless of their age. Everyone has a different level of capability in motivation and frustration. Everyone is unique in their learning style. Everyone is unique in their innate abilities such as ear training, pitch matching, tone capability, and breath control.

Each of these need to be dealt with individually if you want to avoid high levels of frustration. Also, a training program that is individualized is only good for a 1 to 3 week period. After that you are wasting time working out with the same old routine. The good news is that you only need 10-20 minutes of training a day to become an exceptional vocalist. When you get down to it, that’s the easy part. Find a good coach, spend 10-20 minutes a day training, every day, and practice reducing your frustration level by appropriate emotional and motivational supports and you’ll be singing in no time.

At Peak Music, we offer the highest quality vocal coaching. Our lead instructor, Jeff Moore, is a Certified Master Voice Instructor and Coach and received his certifications from the Vocalist Studio and Berklee College of Music.

Our vocal program helps singers make the most gains in the shortest among of time. We offer voice lessons and short-term specialty classes. We also offer a voice assessment service where we can give you feedback about your voice using the latest in voice technology. Contact us for a voice consultation Jeff to see if Peak Music is a good fit for you. Our students come from all over New York’s Capital District including Latham, Menands, Albany, Schenectady, Troy, Clifton Park, Cohoes, Watervliet, Niskayuna, and surrounding communities.