The Skilful Singer’s Blog

February 26, 2024

How recording your singing lessons can speed up your progress

During my singing training, I recorded every lesson, using a heavy old cassette recorder. Later, I’d listen back and mostly, it drove me nuts, itching to fix this sound, fix that move, change that vowel, get that consonant out of the way, and oh! That weak breath control! It made […]
December 16, 2023

What are your singing goals for next year? Our singers share theirs

As a new year approaches, it’s helpful to reflect on your singing achievements and plan your goals for the coming year. First, be sure to celebrate your achievements! As a singer, you’re taking risks others don’t. Putting yourself out there with your voice and performance takes courage, so do acknowledge […]
November 29, 2023

Fast-track better breathing for singing with these Accent Method exercises

In last month’s article, I introduced Accent Method Breathing (AMB), an efficient way to quickly take in breath to support singing and increase your versatility as a singer. The article included a few beginner AMB exercises, which you can try here. This month, I introduce some advanced breathing exercises for […]
October 25, 2023

How Accent Breathing Method improves your versatility as a singer

Whether you’re an aspiring, beginner or advanced singer, you know that sustainable breathing is crucial to singing. The science of breathing and the voice has seen many developments over the decades, and recently, I’ve introduced a technique called Accent Breathing Method (AMB) into training my studio singers. Over the next […]
September 21, 2023

How singing lessons in a professional studio enhances your progress

We humans are creatures of habit, and convenience can be key to forming good habits. This is especially true for singing training. Regular lessons and singing practice are essential to developing your vocal skills and technique, and anything that makes this easier is a good thing. This is one reason […]
August 22, 2023

Here’s to music: the work and rewards for singers in our studio concert

There’s nothing like working towards a live concert to develop your singing and performance skills. And last month, 12 of our talented, committed singers showcased their work at our annual concert, held at The Flute Tree in Sydney’s Leichhardt, performing 24 songs to 50 appreciative guests. The concert offers a […]
July 20, 2023

Memorising song lyrics is essential when performing. Try these easy tips

How often do you see a singer performing with a sheet of song lyrics in front of them? Rarely, I’d guess. Performing singers memorise song lyrics to free themselves to be in the moment, to better interpret a song and its character, and to engage with their audience. Many of […]
June 28, 2023

How choosing the right song repertoire for your voice helps you grow as a singer

Choosing repertoire, i.e. the songs you sing, requires a range of decision making, based on a singer’s ability and various other reasons, such as cultural and technical appropriateness. Here, I’ll explore some songs currently being sung in the studio, and why I have selected them for singers. Sometimes, singers come […]
May 23, 2023

Pitch perfect: Learn to sing accurate intervals and stay in tune

Singing in or out of tune can make or break your development as a singer. Here, we’ll learn how interval training helps. What are intervals in music? When you sing a song, you are technically singing a group of pitches, i.e. notes. Those pitches are formed using intervals. An interval […]
April 27, 2023

Two singers share their tips for developing belt and mixed voice singing

Belt and mixed voice singing are popular styles, featuring in many contemporary genres. And while they are challenging to learn, you’re rewarded with a greater versatility in repertoire. Let’s look at developing these skills, using songs two of my singers are working on to demonstrate some techniques. Belt singing usually […]
March 30, 2023

Learning to sing after 40: Get comfy out of your comfort zone

In life, we’re always learning. As we age, though, we might let go of some goals, thinking we’re too old. But adages like ‘It’s never too late’ and ‘You’re only as old as you feel’ ring true with learning a new skill later in life – like singing. Sometimes we […]
February 24, 2023

How lip buzzes, tongue trills and humming fine tune your singing

When you were a child, if you pursed your lips and vibrated them to make a ‘broom, broom’ sound when pretending to drive a car, you were performing a lip buzz. These, along with tongue trills, humming and similar voice warm ups are often referred to as semi-occluded vocal tract […]
December 13, 2022

2022: a successful year for the studio and our singers

Reflecting on 2022 makes me realise how far the studio – and you, its singers – have come. Here are some of our achievements. January – April: Student numbers more than double We began 2022 with 14 singing students. By January 31, we had 24 – returning students and those […]
November 28, 2022

Embrace digital technology and enhance your singing training

Learning to sing, as with most other types of learning, has been greatly enhanced by digital technology. Online singing training, in particular, gained in popularity during the pandemic’s lockdowns, with singing teachers delivering lessons via video platforms such as Zoom. While video singing training doesn’t allow in-depth tuition, it fulfilled […]
October 27, 2022

Freeing jaw tension is essential for resonant singing – how to relax yours

Your jaw plays an important role when you sing. A tense or overactive jaw can limit your articulation and vocal resonance, which detracts from your sound. Jaw issues need patience and persistence to rectify. Let’s look at how your jaw works in singing and ways to free up tension there. […]
September 20, 2022

Breathe deep: learn how to use your pelvic floor to sing with ease

Whether you’re a beginner singer or you have more singing experience, you’d know that healthy, sustainable vocal production requires head to toe engagement and supportive posture. Your body’s pelvic area plays an important role here, but it’s not often given attention in singing training. In our series of articles on […]
August 23, 2022

Move to the Groove: the Importance of Gestures and Movement When Singing

In last month’s blog, we looked at how to improve your vocal expression when singing in performance. We briefly touched on some forms of physical expression, too, and in this article, we’ll look more closely at using gesture and movement in singing. Our bodies not only house our vocal instrument, […]
July 31, 2022

Expressive performance: you need these elements to bring a song to life

How do you bring a song to life as a singer? It takes more than strong vocal technique. Expert singing teacher, Kathleen Connell shares her tips.
June 27, 2022

Thinking out loud – an effective approach to learning to sing

Talking about singing is crucial to learning vocal technique, as it helps your brain focus and remember. Expert singing teacher, Kathleen Connell explains how.
May 28, 2022

Sing your own song: how singer-songwriters can improve their craft

Is singing training different for singer-songwriters? In some ways, yes. Experienced vocal coach, Kathleen Connell shares her tips on how to improve your craft.
April 29, 2022

Don’t think you can sing? You can. It takes training more than talent

Anyone can learn to sing! It takes training more than talent, as well as a commitment to your singing goals. Vocal coach Kathleen Connell explains how.
March 28, 2022

How to strengthen your mixed voice singing

Mastering mixed voice singing is an essential skill for accomplished, versatile singers. Expert singing teacher Kathleen Connell explains how to achieve it.
February 19, 2022

Still coughing from COVID? These tips will help you get back to healthy singing.

Recovering from Covid 19 and upper respiratory illness needs a paced approach as you return to practice and performances. These tips from Kathleen Connell Singing, will assist you to heal and renew your passion for singing.
January 3, 2022

Take target practice at your singing goals for better results

Taking a targeted approach to your singing goals and practice routine sets you up for more success. Try these singing practice tips from Kathleen Connell.
December 20, 2021

These 4 Stephen Sondheim songs can improve your singing

Vocal agility in singing lets you sing a wider repertoire and improves your voice quality. These tips from expert singing coach Kathleen Connell will help.
November 25, 2021

How to develop greater vocal agility to broaden your singing choices

Vocal agility in singing lets you sing a wider repertoire and improves your voice quality. These tips from expert singing coach Kathleen Connell will help.
October 26, 2021

Let it flow: the importance of exhalation in singing

Learning which muscles to use is an important part of efficient breathing for singing. Here, expert singing teacher Kathleen Connell looks at exhalation.
September 24, 2021

How the right song choice helps you target specific singing goals

Lockdowns don’t mean an end to learning to sing. Kathleen Connell’s thorough, creative approach to online singing lessons helps her student’s power through their goals.
August 25, 2021

Which Tempo App will work best for my singing needs?

Expressive singing starts with a strong beat. Our guide to using Tempo Apps which suits your singing needs.
July 28, 2021

Create a singing practice routine you’ll stick to

Successful singers commit to a regular singing practice routine to develop their craft. Here’s our guide to creating weekly singing practice habits you’ll stick to.