Practice, practice, practice

“What is practicing?” & “How do I do it?” are two questions that always come up, so let’s dive right in! 

What is practicing?

Practice (def.):  To perform (an activity) or exercise (a skill) repeatedly or regularly in order to improve or maintain one’s proficiency. Repetition is key. When we work together, I am giving you the tools, skills, and feedback that will help you to improve. After receiving this information, your  next step is to carve out time to repeat these skills, until the next time I see you. This allows  your body to receive and absorb new concepts and feelings. I always recommend recording your lessons or coaching sessions, that way you can listen and spot the growth & development for yourself. 

How do I do it? 

There is no, one way to practice you just need to find what works best for you. The main goal is to have enough time to work through your vocalise regime then tackle your repertoire. I personally dedicate a time every morning to doing my full warm-up. Sometimes I am able to work on repertoire as well, but other times I am not. If that is the case, I do a light warm-up in the middle of the day and then work on repertoire. I also journal when I practice, noting what feels great, or what I need to focus on during tomorrow’s session. 

Here’s a list of ideas to see what works best for you: 

• Block off time in your calendar at the start of every week, dedicated solely to practicing. 
• Sit and listen to your last voice lesson, taking notes about the differences you hear when you aren’t singing along.  
• Hit play on your recorded voice lesson and sing along. 
• You don’t always have to sing – make time to look at lyrics, research, or decide on acting circumstances for a song.
• If a morning practice time doesn’t feel right for you, switch it up and try an evening one! 

How do you practice? I’d love to hear what is working well for you in the comments!