[Vocal and First-Year Students] 35. Adjusting the Difficulty of Singing Practice Is Essential

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Singing practice also requires a structured approach for steady improvement, balancing easy and difficult songs.

We practice or take vocal lessons because we want to sing better than we do now. To improve our skills, deciding what to practice and at what level is just as important as the amount of practice or the number of lessons. Merely repeating things that are already familiar makes it difficult to acquire new techniques, and continuously attempting tasks that are beyond one's current capacity is also not an effective method. For a stable ascent that gradually acquires new techniques while reducing excessive burden, it is necessary to adjust the difficulty level of practice.

However, it is not easy to judge what the appropriate difficulty level is for oneself. A song that seemed easy because of its simple melody and narrow range may require precise handling of breath control, rhythm, and phrasing when actually sung. Conversely, a song that sounds fast and flashy can be learned more easily than expected if it involves repeating a consistent pattern.

The difficulty experienced during actual singing varies not only based on the range and structure of the song itself but also according to the current ability of the singer. For someone accustomed to high notes, a song with a wide range may be relatively easier, while for someone not used to handling rhythm in detail, a song with a narrow range but finely divided rhythms may be more difficult. Vocal habits, diction, and understanding of the genre also affect the perceived difficulty.

Even when learning the same song, the goal for a beginner may be to accurately master pitch and rhythm. On the other hand, it is common for an advanced learner's goal to be set as analyzing the phrasing of the original recording or modifying it with their own expression. Even if the song is the same, the difficulty of the task changes depending on what is being practiced and to what level it is to be realized.

There is no need to necessarily avoid difficult songs. Even if completing an entire song is difficult, one can learn new rhythmic or vocal techniques by dividing specific sections. Conversely, a song that is easy to sing can be utilized as a new practice task by changing the phrasing, modifying the rhythm, and attempting ad-libs that suit the song. Adding many technical flourishes does not necessarily mean better singing. What matters is which expression one chooses and how naturally it can be realized.

When adjusting the difficulty of practice, it is necessary to consider musical preferences in addition to vocal ability. A student who prefers a specific genre may be familiar with the rhythm, timbre, and expressive methods of that music but may be passive about trying other styles. There is no need to master all genres evenly, but gradually expanding one's range centered on preferred genres can help in acquiring new vocal techniques and expressive methods. For students without a particular genre preference, they can discover their strengths and interests by exposing themselves to various music and gradually concretize their musical direction.

If one is unsure where to start when first learning to sing, referring to the various cover videos posted on social media (SNS) is also a method. By comparing how different people sing the same song in different ranges or styles, one can examine what parts they can attempt and which parts are still difficult. When selecting actual practice songs, one should consider whether it can be sung without strain using their current range and vocal technique, what parts cause repeated difficulties, and whether there are new techniques to learn.

In actual lessons, the instructor may proceed with the song brought by the student as is, or adjust the range or practice only specific sections. Sometimes, the instructor may suggest a song that the student did not expect. When it is difficult for the student to assess their own level on their own, the trainer helps adjust the goals and order of practice by observing the singing and providing feedback. This is because song selection is not simply about arranging easy and difficult songs in order, but a process that considers what is currently possible and the techniques that need to be newly learned.

Even when repeating the same song, if the practice goal changes, the content that can be learned also changes. Conversely, if one continues to learn new songs but repeats similar problems, it is necessary to review the direction of practice. The results of practice are difficult to judge solely by how difficult a song was sung or how many songs were mastered. It is necessary to examine whether sections that were previously difficult can now be sung stably and whether the acquired techniques can be applied to other songs. Vocal skills improve as these changes accumulate little by little.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original