Dubbed by the BBC as “the world’s most accessible stress reliever”, there are many reasons why singing makes you feel good.
Often, the only thing that stops us from taking advantage of this therapeutic bounty is confidence in our voice.
This is where the CAE comes in. We’re very fortunate to have accomplished singer Helen Ryder sharing her love and experience in a course designed for singers at all levels.
Helen has over 20 years’ experience as a performer, recording artist and vocal tutor in Sydney and Melbourne. She has performed at the ARIA Awards with The Whitlams, at The Darling Harbour Jazz Festival, and opened for Vika and Linda Bull, The Badloves and Russell Morris. She is also due to release her second album in 2025.
In her class, Helen puts the ‘fun’ in fundamentals. She believes that singing is for everyone, and her classes welcome students of all ages and abilities—from those wanting to explore their voice for personal enjoyment to those returning to professional performance.
Helen shared her insights on four easy techniques to enhance your singing voice, whether you want to sound better at home or on stage.
Focus on your posture
Singing with the correct posture is one of the easiest things you can do to improve your voice.
“[Posture] is one of the first things I teach my students,” Helen says.
“Slouching or tensing muscles can restrict your vocal range. A correct posture will allow you to breathe freely, improving your lung capacity and vocal resonance.”
“Most importantly it helps you feel relaxed, which is essential for a good performance.”
Don’t forget to warm up
Your vocal cords are like any other muscle in your body – if you’re going to give them a workout, you must give them a proper warm up.
“As a working singer, it’s essential that I give myself time to warm up my voice before performing. It’s crucial that my voice is relaxed and ready for a performance.”
“Warm-ups also help calm pre-performance nerves, something even professional singers experience.”
So, before you burst into song, give yourself time to do a few vocal warm up exercises. You could hum the tune you’re going to sing and see if you feel more confident and relaxed.
Practise makes perfect
Helen compares singing to learning any other musical instrument, or skill: the more you practise, the better you’ll be.
“You become a more natural singer when engaging in your songs daily.”
Helen encourages students to find time in their day to do vocal warmups and practise their songs.
“This means you’re focused on your repertoire and you are carrying your songs with you wherever you go or whatever you are doing.”
That includes when you’re driving in your car, going for a walk or cleaning your home – your everyday life is full of potential rehearsal spaces.
Stay hydrated
It’s important to be mindful of vocal health. Keeping your voice at peak performance involves being aware of just how vulnerable the human voice can be. It can be susceptible to changing seasons, room temperatures and more.
Staying hydrated is one way to protect your voice.
As a professional singer, Helen stays hydrated and nourished before a performance.
“Anytime I’m performing, I make sure that I’m eating a few hours before a show. It’s about making smart decisions to protect my voice. It’s preferable to choose drinks that hydrate and don’t affect the vocal cords.”
If you’re ready to discover the power of your voice, get started with these tips and then come and join Helen in her class, ‘Fundamentals of Singing: Finding your own Voice and Singing from the Heart.’