What is Practicing?

Most practice sessions are scheduled for a specific time that has been set specifically for this activity. Specific schedules of practice time are especially important to a new student of singing, for many old habits need to be broken and new ones formed. As mentioned in our manual, "A Voice For A Lifetime in 30 Days", if you stick to the same time every day, for the same amount of time every day for 30 days, you will have retrained your body's cell memory to respond the way you want it to for singing.

Well, I don't want you to think that during the other parts of your day that you have not reserved for practicing you can not or should not practice. No indeed! You should practice on the scheduled set time every day, and also whenever the fancy strikes you! But let's be clear! Singing in your car to the radio is NOT practicing.

Many students practice for hours every day and do not improve. Why not? Because they are not really practicing...they are just singing and calling it practice. The fundamentals are presented in Volume One of "A Voice For a Lifetime in 30 Days" in a specific way to re-program your body's cell memory in 30 days.

It is AFTER that has occurred that singing in the car to the radio takes on a whole new meaning. Then you ARE indeed practicing the principles of correct singing by applying them to singing for pleasure.

When I say, "Practice makes Permanent", I mean that learning and drilling on the exercises becomes a part of your body's cell memory, but that if you are just singing the same old way, incorrectly, then THAT is what you will reinforce. PRACTICE MAKES PERMANENT, NOT PERFECT!

I advocate short practice sessions mostly so as not to over exercise and get weary or bored enough to stop practicing altogether. But I also advocate practicing in your car, or for a few moments in the ladies room at work, or while you're shopping - anytime at all in addition to your regular specified time.

If you've ever watched "American Idol", I'm sure you've heard some pretty awful singing, mostly from singers who could not stay on pitch. Being on pitch is an absolute MUST if you ever intend to sing in public. Being able to hear the tonality of a song in your head without accompaniment is crucial.

I recommend a hand-held tape recorder that you can sing into any time of day and then listen back during your scheduled practice session to hear if you sang on pitch.

It will train your ear and improve your overall musicianship!