How To Build Vocal Stamina To Sing & Record LIVE In One Take

The most important thing to be aware of when trying to build vocal stamina is that your voice needs to remain free as you sing. It is necessary to make the voice work in an incredibly smooth way, where it feels GOOD and doesn’t feel tight in the throat in anyway.

When singing in this free coordination there will still be a certain level of effort which needs to be exerted. You may still feel pressure in the throat, vocals cords and the stomach for example, so try not misinterpret a normal amount of pressure in the body as a tension. This effort you exert when you sing should not hurt, it should be manageable and should not wear down your voice.

In the video lesson linked above, I discuss that when singing songs live or recording live and in one take it is necessary for you to be able to sing the phrases both loudly & softly. If you are unable to fade the volume in and out of the phrases you are singing, this indicates you are singing in a way that is either underdeveloped and lacking in vocal strength, or singing with too much tension in the voice.

If you are unable to sing at differently volumes and fade in the volume with your voice, the notes you are singing are not free. You may be able to get away without being able to do this, but the best live singers who are very consistent are able to use this coordination of singing with both loud and soft dynamics on each note.

The other strategy for building vocal stamina when singing live is pre-planning where you are able to take the breath when singing songs. Taking adequate breaths not only allows you to keep your voice supported but also allows your body to release any tension that may build up. You release the tension as you exhale and take a new breath in to continue supporting the voice.