The Skilful Singer’s Blog
July 28, 2021
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.
June 20, 2021
Performance skills are vital when learning to sing. Our tips will get you performance ready, so you can enjoy the experience as much as your audience.
May 27, 2021
A strong chest voice gives singers more flexibility and freedom of expression. Sydney singing teacher Kathleen Connell shows you how to achieve it.
April 28, 2021
When you start learning to sing, breathing training is a fundamental skill that requires much thinking, focus and practice. You have to train your body to manage your breath so you can sing a variety of phrases, rhythms and musical intervals. In this blog series, I will break down the […]
March 26, 2021
Is your voice zoomed out from too many video calls? Sydney singing teacher Kathleen Connell shares vocal exercises you can do on the go.
February 21, 2021
Being a singing teacher, I suppose it’s no surprise I find birds and their songs so captivating. Birds have especially enchanted me this summer, as with the general quietness and less air traffic noise, their carolling, shrieking, whistling, chanting and warbling are easily heard. We’ve even had a family of […]
December 17, 2020
What a year 2020 was for all of us! While the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions put a halt to many activities, it also gave us time to refocus on professional and personal goals. For the studio, it meant an opportunity to do a website redesign with even more resources […]
December 9, 2020
Do you struggle to hit high notes? Do you avoid songs with passages that call for using your head voice? Singing in head voice is a common challenge for vocalists, but learning to find and develop your upper register will open you up to singing a wider range of material […]
August 7, 2020
Recently a singer told me they didn’t like the scales, arpeggios and exercises we do at the beginning of lessons, because they were worried about getting them wrong. Well, getting them ‘wrong’ is part of the learning process! Singers may be dismissive of exercises, try to avoid them, or feel […]
July 4, 2020
While breathing in our daily lives is something our bodies do automatically, breathing for singing is something we have to learn. But learning proper breath support can take a while, because your body has to learn new ways to be and breathe. It can be complex, challenging and thought provoking […]
May 20, 2020
Thinking of learning to sing? Online singing lessons by video are convenient, fun and a great way to see if it’s for you. Try an intro class with Kathleen Connell.
May 17, 2020
The health and wellbeing of staff and students is our main priority, and I would like to assure you that precautions are taken at the studio to adhere to strict government protocols.
May 17, 2020
Part of the joy and satisfaction of singing is communicating the meaning and emotion of a song in a way that connects with your audience. Refined vocal skills and technique are important of course, but unless your audience studies singing themselves, they’re not going to notice how well your breath […]
January 22, 2020
If you’re planning to do Music 1 or 2 for the HSC, singing tuition with Kathleen can help you achieve top marks.
December 12, 2019
Read about how performing in our studio concert can improve your singing and even develop a better functioning brain.
November 19, 2019
Singing isn’t just a fun, creative way to express yourself, it’s scientifically proven to improve your brain performance in all facets of your life.
October 29, 2019
If you’ve been learning singing for some time, you probably know your vocal exercises off by heart. And while you know their benefits, you’d be forgiven for finding them a little repetitive and tedious. So, is there a fun, more varied and challenging way to further develop your voice and […]
September 18, 2019
What’s your position on effortless, resonant singing? If you said, “With an upright posture”, then … take a bow! It’s the one thing I nag my students about because good posture is crucial to singing well: correct body alignment supports your breath capacity, which supports your voice production. Why does […]
August 26, 2019
If you want to sing better, look for these elements in a singing lesson. If you’ve never worked with a singing teacher before, or if you want to know why I structure our singing lessons the way I do, here’s a little insight and how it benefits you. Every singing […]
July 11, 2019
With winter upon us, your voice health can be challenged. Colds and flu threaten not only your singing, but your daily voice use, so it’s important to give your vocal cords extra care. Here are 6 ways to protect your voice, and your general health, in the colder months. […]
June 22, 2019
Even if you’re an accomplished singer, sometimes you need to return to the foundation techniques of a well-functioning voice, to correct any voice weakness and produce an even better sound. I What are these foundations? Breathing and posture, essentially. When you get these right, you’ll enjoy singing better with ease, […]
May 31, 2019
While the concept of ‘open throat’ singing is widely debated, there’s more to better singing than that. Singing with a well-functioning voice is a whole-body practice involving the foundations of correct posture and proper breathing – without that, your throat muscles close down. Then there are the facial, mouth and […]
February 27, 2019
With 2019 still young, now is a great time to set firm goals that stretch your abilities and improve your singing. And to reach those goals, you have to get smart about them. I don’t simply mean clever, but SMART. Make your goals: S= Specific M= Measurable A= Achievable/Attainable R= […]
October 3, 2018
Being free of tension and creating a full rich sound when singing is a singer’s aim. But distinguishing where the tension is coming from, how to release it and create a gorgeous tone takes some discovery, including finding out about the role your tongue root plays in singing. “The root […]
June 29, 2018
Expand your song choice and hone your technical skills with these classics from The Great American Songbook When it comes to song choice, the simplest option is to return to your go-to song list; those familiar, well-worn songs you know like the back of your hand. But as they say, […]
December 13, 2017
As singers, we sometimes have the privilege to share our talent with friends and family at special occasions. That’s been the case for several of my students this year, with two of them serenading their new spouse! Read their stories.
December 13, 2017
Singing at a wedding or other special occasion is one of the most memorable ‘gifts’ you can bestow on a friend or family member. Or even better, it can be an unforgettable surprise for your newly-betrothed. Yet this type of performance comes with an added complication. Emotion. Here are five […]
July 21, 2017
Many of us don’t think twice about our voice until it’s impaired or lost. And then we panic! Here are three things to avoid doing if you want your voice to return to normal as quickly as possible.
March 14, 2017
Owen Alexander is a Sydney-based singer-songwriter, who works in the furniture industry by day. He started singing lessons with Kathleen Connell in 2016 and set a goal to perform with a local opera group. Here’s how Owen went about making it happen. When it comes to setting singing goals, why […]
December 1, 2016
If there’s one thing that kills an audience’s enjoyment, it’s not clearly hearing the words in a song. Luckily for all the singers (and listeners) out there, the key to clarity is consonants.