What's the best way to balance vocal technique and artistic expression in your performance?

1 Know your voice type

Your voice type is determined by factors such as your vocal range, timbre, tessitura, and transition points. Knowing your voice type can help you choose songs that suit your strengths and avoid those that might damage or strain your voice. For example, if you are a soprano, you might want to avoid songs that require a lot of belting or growling in the lower register. If you are a bass, you might want to avoid songs that are too high or fast for your vocal cords. Your voice type also influences your artistic expression, as it reflects your natural vocal qualities and emotions.

2 Practice vocal exercises

Vocal exercises are essential to improve your vocal technique, such as breathing, posture, resonance, articulation, and pitch. They also help you warm up your voice before a performance, prevent vocal injuries, and expand your vocal abilities. You can practice vocal exercises with a vocal coach, a piano, a tuner, or a recording device. Some examples of vocal exercises are scales, arpeggios, lip trills, humming, and vowel sounds. You should practice vocal exercises regularly and vary them according to your needs and goals.

3 Sing with emotion

Emotion is the key to artistic expression, as it connects you with your audience and conveys the meaning and mood of the song. To sing with emotion, you need to understand the lyrics, the context, and the intention of the song. You also need to use your facial expressions, body language, and dynamics to express your feelings and emotions. For example, you can smile, frown, nod, or gesture to emphasize certain words or phrases. You can also sing louder, softer, faster, or slower to create contrast and interest.

4 Experiment with your voice

Your voice is a versatile and creative instrument that can produce different sounds, colors, and effects. You can experiment with your voice to discover new ways of singing and expressing yourself. For example, you can try different vocal registers, such as chest, head, or mixed voice. You can also try different vocal styles, such as classical, jazz, rock, or pop. You can also try different vocal techniques, such as vibrato, falsetto, or whistle tone. Experimenting with your voice can help you find your own voice and style.

5 Get feedback and inspiration

Feedback and inspiration are important to balance vocal technique and artistic expression in your performance. You can get feedback from your vocal coach, your peers, your audience, or yourself. Feedback can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, improve your skills, and boost your confidence. You can also get inspiration from listening to other singers, watching live performances, reading books or articles, or exploring different genres and cultures. Inspiration can help you learn new things, spark your creativity, and motivate you to sing better.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?