By Jeannie Deva

Having worked with thousands of singers over the years, I have found that many are confused about technique and what they should be doing when singing. They are uncertain whether the directions they have been given are correct because they are usually based on opinion or personal taste rather than on fact.

So how do you know if a vocal technique is right or wrong? Unlike a guitar where you can see the frets and strings, you can’t see your vocal folds or vocal muscles to see if they are in the correct position or if they are too tense. Often you can feel the tension, but still may not know what to do about it. So how do you know if what you are doing is right?

The short answer is that a right or correct technique aligns with how the body naturally produces sound. With some understanding of vocal anatomy you will know whether you are working with or against your body. You don’t need a degree in biology, but you do need to be free of some of the common misconceptions about the diaphragm. A key understanding is how the diaphragm works differently for singing than it does for ordinary breathing.

You can gain this understanding by buying and reading The Contemporary Vocalist Book. For a full understanding plus exercises to develop your diaphragm and other vocal muscles I recommend  The Contemporary Vocalist Improvement course. Post your comments to let me know your thoughts about vocal technique. Do you have a specific question you’d like answered?