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It’s All About The Foundations

How Can We Help Our Young People Find Their Voice?

As the new school year begins, I have been sharing my thoughts about teaching kids to sing, so if you work with kids in any capacity, be sure to come back. You can subscribe to updates via email, or follow us on Facebook. And if you have any questions about teaching kids voice, leave a comment, or submit it via the forum on our blog. I’d love to hear from you!

Find links to the other posts in this series at the end of this post

This week I’d like to talk about…

It’s All About The Foundations

This summer I’ve had the opportunity to teach a number of classes for 2nd–6th graders… and I’m not done yet. With each student and each class experience I become more convinced that if we give our students the right tools, with the right understanding of those tools they will generally make the right choices. When it comes to singing, this means instead of yelling and pushing with their voices they will revert to using the tools of upright posture, naturally efficient breathing and good acoustics to project their voices. by working through these as well as other areas in fun, interactive ways they get very comfortable do it the right way, and very uncomfortable doing it the wrong way.

Foundations Keep Them Safe

Once my young students have started to establish good foundations I’m not afraid to let them explore and imitate some sounds and stylings of professional artists. They know not to try to be the older singers, but also to learn from those who are successful. They know what their voice sounds and physically feels like when they are within the boundaries of what’s safe… now. They also know those boundaries will expand as their voices mature, which is that’s exciting, and will keep them going.

Teaching Kids to Sing

Piano teacher teaching kids to sing

The Vocal Coach Teaching Kids to Sing Series contains the necessary principles and exercises to guide a child to better voice control. They are presented so the average child, teacher and parent can grasp and apply what’s taught. Teaching Kids To Sing has been successfully used in churches and public schools, as well as home school and family settings for many years.

For youth, we recommend moving up to the Vocal Coach adult line of training products. Start with Complete Breathing, or go ahead and purchase a set such as Vocal Coach Singer. You may also wish to take advantage of our Voice Assessment to help you get started in the right direction.

More Teaching Kids to Sing Next Week

I am in the middle of a Teaching Kids to Sing blog series here at the beginning of the the school year. So stay tuned for more and in the meantime, check out last weeks post:

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3 Comments

  1. I like th idea of giving kids the opportunity to imitate famous singers. When I was young, my sisters and cousins and I used to pretend we were the Supremes or Martha and the Vandellas, etc. We enjoyed singing like them and even lip synching.

  2. Great comment, Gail. I totally agree that imitating those who do it well is a great learning tool. It can teach expression, harmony and confidence. My only caution is this: If young singers are imitating an aggressive, pushed rock style they can end of really pushing and straining. A young teen simply doesn’t have the physiology to match a 25 year old. But, other than that it is a great, valid tool. Thanks so much for sharing.

    Thanks again.For Vocal Coach,
    Chris Beatty

  3. Keeping kids grounded in the essentials or foundations of good singing is so so important. My kids started with vocal coaching and choir and as they branch out into bands an musical theater they have no problem experimenting and doing new things with their voices since they already know the essentials. I’m excited to see what they do next with their wonderful voices!

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