Developing tone quality as an adult beginner helps you sing with confidence and ease as it allows you to feel like a real singer through a more developed and nuanced, colourful sound.
One of the primary benefits of focusing on tone quality is the improvement in vocal clarity and resonance. When you learn to harness your natural voice - instead of attempting to sound like your favourite singer - you become more aware of how to use your voice effectively in a way that works in harmony with your physiology, style and personality.
This awareness helps in producing a richer, fuller and a broader colour palette of sound. Additionally, it allows you to explore different vocal styles and genres, empowering you to express your unique artistic identity.
It also fosters emotional connection and is one of the more fun, and creative sides of learning how to sing. This connection can be profoundly satisfying, providing a sense of fulfilment and joy!
Here’s a few tips on how to discover the natural beauty of your voice - some of it may feel silly to begin with, but working on your tone and resonance, and heightening your awareness for sound is a skill that goes a long way towards sounding great.
Tips:
Practice open vowel sounds to explore clarity and resonance in your voice. Notice the key word here: explore - try different mouth positions, record yourself and see what sounds pleasant and what doesn't.
Focus on breath support to improve your stability and control. It is tricky working on resonance if your voice is wobbly, breathy or inconsistently unstable. Work on this area first.
Record yourself singing to track your progress and refine your tone. Yes, it can be intimidating or downright embarassing to record yourself, however, developing your hearing and your ability to spot, monitor and modify your tone and technique is a very, very important singing skill.
Practice long, sustained notes while shifting your tone: For example, hold an "AH" or "UH" sound, while changing the space within your mouth, to build control over your tone. Try not to think in terms of "this sounds bad" or "this sounds good" - tone is tone! And in contemporary styles of music, you'll be surprised at what can work if it is executed and delivered with style, confidence and control.
Experiment with different volumes to discover how dynamics affect your sound and tone. Go from soft to loud or loud to soft.
Here's a YouTube tutorial and explanation by our studio director and teacher trainer, Dr. Veronica Stewart, to help!
Want to learn more? Check out our self-paced resources below:
Study Video: The The Voice Works for Singing (Adult Beginner Version)
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