As a vocal trainer, the question I am asked most often is, How Can I sing higher?’ Here are a few questions to ask yourself:
Question 1
Why do you want to sing higher?

Question 2
Higher than what?

Question 3
Are you being realistic about your voice and body type?

Question 4
Are you willing and able to put in the time, energy and focus on practice to change the bad habits that prevent you from singing with freedom?

Some singers are anxious to impress the audience with their vocal ability by showing off with high notes. Some singers want to be more expressive and believe that having high notes is all it takes. Some singers – my favorite kind – want the ability to respond to the music and if that means high notes, you have them to use.

To change the attitudes and old habits that prevent you from singing with freedom requires thought, a change in attitude, practice and more practice, plus the willingness to trust your self-knowledge as it grows with practice and to trust your body as an undeniably brilliant vocal instrument.

All the steps to singing higher you find in this blog promote vocal freedom, which will help you to sing higher. And lower. And sexier. And freer. And more powerfully. Vocal freedom is the ultimate goal for a singer.

Begin thinking of your speaking voice and singing voice as the same voice. Do not create differences in the physical use of the instrument when switching from speech to singing. It’s all the same function.

Watch and feel for the shifts you make when you start singing. Are you physically changing anything in the throat, jaw, tongue, abdomen? If you have strong habits involving any of the above, it may take a while for you to begin to feel them. Focus inside the body because that is where the voice is mastered.
Your awareness of the process you use to sing – most of which you are probably UNaware of at this moment – is a good first step.

Take a line from one of your songs and say it to yourself in the mirror. Make sure you are not singing it, but saying the line. Now sing the same line. Did you feel yourself making changes in the throat, jaw, belly or any other part of your instrument? Did you facial expression change?

Now that you are aware of a change or two that you create when you sing, you can begin to let go of those changes and stay with a more natural use of your singing voice. All of those changes you make when you sing create tension in your voice. Tension is the enemy of good singing – especially singing higher.

Did you expect a quick fix to singing higher? (As I tell my private students, my magic wand broke years ago!) It’s possible to make quick fixes in the moment, but I guarantee they won’t last. The fixes you read on this blog begin the process of change that lasts a lifetime!

Want to get started with your vocal training? Good. Visit my website SingLikeYouSpeak.com for online voice lessons and VocalPowerTools.com for private lessons in person or via webcam any where in the world.

All the best to you!

About the author

Sally Morgan is a professional vocal trainer with over 30 years of experience. Sally is also the creator and author of SingLikeYouSpeak(TM)!

• Blog

View Sally's Profile      Subscribe via RSS