Practical Skills for Vocalists
Practical Skills for Vocalists

From one vocalist to another...

I'll never forget the time I was supposed to lead worship and do some solos for a conference. That particular day I woke up and had no voice. I had been fighting it all week and my worst nightmare happened...NOTHING. It was a very scary experience that I don't want to repeat. Let's face it! We live in MI where cold weather and flu run rampant. Here are a few tips from one vocalist to another:

1. Stay generally healthy. That's right! (enough sleep, good diet and adequate exercise will help you sing better)
2. Warm up before you sing. Give yourself about 10 mins.
3. practice. Sing every day in order to build endurance.
4. If it hurts...stop! Don't continue to sing if you feel muscular pain. Don't use cough drops, they numb your throat to pain. Get help.
5. Get a microphone. Don't ever attempt to sing over instruments. Turn the amp up loud enough so that you can hear yourself and don't over sing.
6. Don't sing harmony at the expense of melody. Sometimes we have really cool tight harmonies...but the melody gets lost and the congregation can't pick it up.
7. Lead with your whole self. First of all, the vocalist is the worshiper and you need to do what is comfortable worship for you. Closing your eyes for an extended period of time will make the congregation feel disconnected to you. Ever try having a conversation with someone who's eyes are closed? The key is to reflect in yourself- your voice, body, face- what you are singing. Think about what you are singing and gently reflect what the words mean to you without performing.
8. Do your best.

Your voice box sits right in the middle of many important human functions like breathing, eating communicating. It is intricate and complex. The voice is the primary equipment that God gave to us to externalize what is going on inside. We need to invite God to work inside! This goes for me too! Just some things I have been processing this week, as I fight a head cold.