The Singer's Toolbox
When it comes to a practice routine, it's all about figuring out what works for YOU. Every musician has his own personal routine, as well as his go-to tools and resources. Similar to how Song X might be a great song for so-and-so but not for you, one person's way of working on technique x might do absolutely nothing for someone else. (This is one of the biggest challenges of being a teacher, by the way.)
However, there are, in my humble opinion, a handful of practice tools that EVERY singer should have. In this post, I've listed five tools that I personally have found to be indispensable in my practicing. Here is my list of must-haves:
1. A keyboard or piano. This is probably the most essential practice tool you can have. Unless you have been gifted with perfect pitch, you will have no way of being certain whether or not you are singing the right notes in your warm-ups and songs. Yes, recordings and accompaniment tracks can be very helpful, but there are many times in the practice process when it is necessary to shut the recording off in order to work slowly on technical details. Plus, a keyboard enables you to play the warm-ups you want, at the pace you want, at the pitches you want. You can get a super-cheap-but-decent-quality keyboard for under $100, either at music retail stores like Guitar Center or Music and Arts, or on Amazon. Or, if you are especially strapped for cash, you can download a keyboard app to your phone or iPad. As long as it plays the right notes when you press the keys, you're good.*
*If you plan on taking piano lessons, however, I do not recommend going the as-cheap-as-possible route. If your goal is to develop some decent proficiency at the keyboard - an admirable goal, I must say - then you should plan on shelling out a little extra for something with 88 weighted keys. Or ask Santa.
2. A music stand. Preferably a solid one that can hold a heavy music book without toppling over. Trust me, you do not want to skimp on the quality of your music stand. Observe:
See that "El Perfecto" in the center? That's what you want, right there.
A music stand is essential because it allows you to view and read your music at a height that won't compromise your posture. If you have to bend over to read your music, then you'll slouch your shoulders and close off your rib cage, which means you won't be able to take a good breath and support your tone properly. Simply holding your music the whole time can also invite similar posture problems, including tension in the arms/shoulders and a sway in the back. The music stand ensures that you can stand with good alignment and that your body can be free to move around.
3. A full-length mirror. Has your teacher ever told you in a lesson that you're doing Weird Quirk X, and you literally had no idea you were doing it? This is because our bodies can only be physically aware of so many things at once, and because you can't see yourself as an outside observer, like your teacher can. This is why the mirror is your friend. The mirror allows you to be a visual observer of yourself while you are practicing. You can monitor your posture, breathing, and other technical habits, as well as make sure that you don't look ridiculous. It's also very helpful as you work on dramatic interpretation. Not sure how a gesture looks? Watch yourself do it in the mirror. Not sure if your facial expression is coming across? Check the mirror to find out.
4. A recording device. Even if you don't record your voice lessons, it can be very helpful to record parts of your practice sessions and play them back to see if they sound anything like you think they do. You probably have a voice recorder app on your phone or iPad. If you're one of those old souls who still has a flip-phone or your parents won't let you get a smart phone until you're 25, you can buy a handheld voice recorder for like, $20-$30 at Staples/Wal-Mart/Best Buy. Or on that new-fangled thing called the Internet.
5. A metronome. A metronome is that annoying thing that clicks or beeps to help keep you on beat. Virtually every musician has a love-hate relationship with the metronome. Not only is it a super-helpful tool for your own practicing, but it's also handy to have so you can set tempi for songs that you plan to take to auditions. Writing a metronome marking in your score will give an audition pianist a clearer idea of how fast or slow you want to sing your song. Again, if you have a smart phone or iPad, you can download a free metronome app. Or if you want something fancy with extra features, you can purchase a metronome for $20-$30 at any music retailer.
So there you have it! Every singer's list of essential practice tools will be slightly different, but I guarantee that you can't go wrong with the things on this list.
Do you have any can't-live-without practice tool or resources? Let us know in the comments!
