When we practice we want to practice effectively in order to not only improve our vocal technique but also our musical artistry. The better we sing, the more fun we have and the more expressive we can be. Here are some tools for practicing.
- Lip Trill through musical examples with awareness.
- Make sure to look at the music as you practice
- Listen to the pitches as you sing and make sure you are matching the recording.
- If you find that you are singing a wrong pitch on the lip trill it is very unlikely that you will sing it correctly on the words.
- Circle your music where you are having difficulty matching pitch.
- Isolate that section and work only on it. If the difficulty is precisely at 30 seconds, I would suggest starting a few seconds earlier to give yourself room to prepare. (Remember, when we fail to prepare, we are preparing to fail.)
- Repeat that section until you can’t get it wrong (An amateur practices until he/she gets it right. A professional practices until he/she can’t get it wrong.)
- If you find that you are making a rhythmic error circle which rhythms you are having difficulty with.
- Find that rhythm on the appropriate rhythm sheet
- Practice it with or without the learning file, whichever you are more comfortable with. Start slow and gradually increase the tempo until you reach performance tempo. Do this until you can’t do it wrong (a minimum of three times in a row, preferably 5-10)
- Go back to the music. Speak the rhythm on the words instead of the numbers. Make sure to use good diction. Do this until you can’t get it wrong.
- Now sing just that section with the learning file until you can’t get it wrong.
