Getting More from Your Practice: Tips for Meaningful Progress

Many singers think of “practice” as simply running through songs — but true practice is much more intentional, and much more rewarding. Done well, it allows you to develop new skills, deepen your control, and expand your choices as an artist.

So, what is practice? How do you do it? And how do you stay motivated to practise, especially when it feels uncomfortable?

Let’s start with a clear definition:

“To perform (an activity) or exercise (a skill) repeatedly or regularly in order to acquire, improve or maintain proficiency in it.”

WHY PRACTISE?

To establish muscular and neural patterns that are:

• Mindful

• Reliable

• Meaningful

Focus on the things you can’t do yet — the skills that feel challenging. We often default to practising what already feels good (because it’s rewarding!), but improvement only comes when you face the unfamiliar.

So:

• Identify a new skill or goal.

• Understand what needs to happen in your body.

• Know how to measure your success.

• Be intentional about what you’re repeating — because repetition creates habit.

One of the most common pitfalls singers face is jumping to performance too soon. Remember: the last thing in is the first thing out under pressure. That’s why your skills need to be fully embedded into your muscle memory before stepping into a performance context.

Take your time. Explore. It’s not a race.

WHY DO WE AVOID PRACTICE?

Some of the most common reasons:

• Fear: of doing it “wrong” or confronting what we can’t yet do.

• Lack of know-how: we’re unsure where to start or what to work on.

• Discomfort: something new often feels “unnatural” — but “unnatural” just means unfamiliar. Over time, unfamiliar becomes familiar.

• Frustration: not seeing improvement (which usually means reassessing what and how you’re practising).

• Overwhelm: thinking practice has to mean hours of work.

HOW LONG SHOULD YOU PRACTISE?

Forget long 2-hour marathons — they’re counterproductive. You simply can’t maintain the precision and focus required for reliable patterning that long. Instead, try 3 x 5-minute sessions a day:

• Identify the skill you want to train.

• Practise mindfully, meaningfully, and reliably.

Whenever you repeat something, you’re laying down a pattern — so make sure it’s the pattern you want.
This approach is much more effective, and seeing results will help keep you motivated.

HOW TO THINK ABOUT PRACTICE

Turn off emotional criticism and embrace objective curiosity. Practice is not the time to beat yourself up — you’re working on things that are supposed to feel challenging.

Instead, practise with:

• Curiosity

• Patience

• Creativity

• Kindness toward yourself

ASK YOURSELF:

As you practise a skill or song, check in with these three areas:

1. Function: Is it functionally accurate and efficient?

2. Acoustic: Is it acoustically accurate and efficient?

3. Performance: Am I making acting choices without compromising the above — i.e., am I taking care of myself vocally while performing?
   (Your first duty of care is always to yourself — not to the song or the show.)

THE REWARD

The reward for thoughtful, consistent practice is:

• Vocal ease

• Greater efficiency

• More economy

• New skills

• More artistic choice

So take your time, focus on what you can’t yet do, and treat yourself with patience and kindness along the way.

Happy practising — you’ve got this!

With thanks to Annemarie Speed of The Voice Explained, whose teaching, insights, and wisdom have inspired me and are the foundation of this article.