Learning to sing is a lot like hitting the gym: you need the right exercises for your current level, and you’ve got to keep it fun to stay motivated. Just like you wouldn’t expect a 60-something who’s been sedentary to do the same workout as a 20-something former athlete, singers need exercises tailored to their skill level. The problem is, many beginner singers don’t even know if they’re hitting the right notes, let alone using proper breath support.
That’s where fun, targeted exercises come in. The key is to focus on fundamental areas—like pitch matching, breath support, and ear training—while keeping things light and engaging. If your goal is to enjoy the process and build skills along the way, you’re in the right place. Here are some fun exercises to help you learn to sing better.
The Birthday Candle Challenge: Boost Breath Support and Control
Breath support is one of those things that’s often misunderstood—especially on YouTube, where self-proclaimed experts toss the term around without explaining it properly. Breath support is about more than just taking deep breaths; it’s about a posture that lets your diaphragm move freely, controlling air flow with your vocal folds, and coordinating your breath during singing runs.
How to Do It:
- Get Supported Posture: Stand up straight, extend your belly slightly, and firm your abdominal muscles. This posture should feel active but not tense. Practice breathing in and out while maintaining this stance.
- Take a Deep Breath: Inhale deeply, filling your lungs without raising your shoulders.
- Blow Out Like Candles: Exhale in fast, hard bursts as if you’re blowing out candles on a birthday cake—aim for about 1 second per burst.
- Count Your Bursts: See how many bursts you can do before running out of air.
- Compete Against Yourself: Track your best score and try to beat it next time.
What This Helps: Improves posture, breath awareness, breath capacity, vocal fold closure, and breath planning.
Pitch Match Challenge: Sharpen Your Ear and Accuracy
One of the biggest challenges for beginners is matching pitch—mostly because they can’t always tell if they’re doing it right. That’s where pitch-matching apps come in handy. Ear training is crucial for any singer, and this exercise turns it into a game.
How to Do It:
- Download a Pitch Matching App: (like the one at yoursingingquestionsanswered.com).
- Use a Piano or Track: Find a piano, a chromatic track, or an app that can play notes within your range.
- Match the Pitch: Sing the notes using the vowel sound “ahh.” Hold each note for at least 1 second.
- Score Yourself: Award 1 point for each note you match accurately.
- Go for a High Score: Challenge yourself to improve a little each day.
What This Helps: Enhances ear training, pitch accuracy, and vocal fold closure.
The Song Challenge: Make Practice Feel Like Play
Let’s face it, singing scales can get boring. That’s why the Song Challenge is all about keeping practice fresh and exciting. Plus, it helps you work on pitch, breath support, timing, and more without feeling like a chore.
How to Do It:
- Pick 11 Favorite Songs: Choose songs you love to sing.
- Number Them 2 to 12: Write them down and number them.
- Roll Two Dice: The combined value (2 to 12) determines which song you sing.
- Sing for 30 Seconds: Use a karaoke track.
- Rate Yourself: Be honest but kind—give yourself a score from 1 to 5 based on what you hear.
- Track Progress: Write down your scores and work on improving them.
- Aim for Perfect Scores: Keep working until you can consistently hit 5s on all songs.
What This Helps: Develops ear training, pitch matching, breath support, and timing—all while keeping things fun.
Why Tailored Exercises Matter
If you don’t tailor your vocal exercises, it’s like going to the gym without a plan—you might have fun, but you won’t see the progress you want. If you’re serious about progress, contact a vocal coach (a good one), but if you’re still thinking about it, have some fun and experiment focusing on specific areas like pitch matching, breath control, and timing not only makes you a better singer but also makes practice feel more rewarding.
So, if you’re ready to start singing better, grab an app, roll the dice, and start having fun with these exercises. Consistency and enjoyment are the keys to progress—because it’s never too late to rock and roll!
Want More Fun Exercises?
Check out yoursingingquestionsanswered.com for more tips and tools to help you sing better while having a blast! Or contact us at peakmusicstudios.com and get fun exercises targeted for you!
