TRAIN YOUR VOICE WELL BY SINGING THE SCALES

Working on scales is an important part of learning how to control your voice. Many singers have told me that they do not believe in singing scales as a warm up to a rehearsal session or even before a performance. 

If you want to keep your voice in good shape, extend your range, learn to manage your breath, have more stability in your voice and more access to a variety of emotions... sing scales that you like and work on them daily.  Often, it is with a bit of embarrassment that a singer will admit - "I never thought that doing scales was important for me. I just sing and warm up as I go. Vocal warm ups and exercises - that's really more for classical singers, isn't it?"  No, that is not true.
Vocal exercises are a requirement for all vocalists. 

What is a Singing Scale?    

Scales are a series of notes that go up or down in pitch and have a distinctive, regular pattern. If you sing Mary Had A Little Lamb using just those first four words and you repeat them at different pitch levels (going higher and going lower), you will have an elementary type of singing scale. Most scales are not so melodious. 

What scales should You sing?

The easiest way to discover scales that work for your particular voice is to take a few lessons with a teacher who is trained to work with vocalists. That is, find a respected teacher who is supportive of you and the kind of music you want to sing. They will cover scale work with you, but if they don't, ask her/him to give you some appropriate scales for your voice and your current singing ability. It is of no value for you to be singing scales that are beyond your means at this point. Having said that, I also believe that even the simplest of scales can be a benefit to the most advanced singers. If you cannot or do not want to find a singing teacher in your area, look for someone who teaches on-line with SKYPE or over the phone.

Scales for Everyone - and Scales for Certain Problems
Some scale patterns work for all students because they exercise the entire voice in ways that everyone benefits from, regardless of  their ability, age, genre or style. But there are also many scales that can help a singer with specific problems - such as singing high notes, developing vibrato or learning how to keeping the breath steady. 

Daily Vocal Exercises Have a Hidden Benefit

Overall, singing scales is an important part of learning about your voice, developing your voice and keeping your voice in good shape. But there is another less obvious benefit to these exercises. When you sing them daily, you are learning how to maintain presence, physical and mental co-ordination and inner awareness. You are also working out the voice as a weight lifter works out the muscles when lifting. Regular practice and repetitive scale work allows you to maintain your skill on stage, performing well, even when you are not in good health or when other conditions are not optimal.

Scales are Fun and Energizing 
When you learn scale and do regular scale work, it helps to build confidence and exercises your vocal muscle.  It's like you really pay your dues to the musical GODS by doing the real work of developing your voice.  You will succeed far better if you practice the scales regularly so that your voice has the opportunity to sing all of the notes in all of the key configurations that you could ever possibly encounter in a song.

YOU WILL BE PREPARED TO SING ANYTHING!

HAPPY SCALES TO YOU!