Singing tips and articles

June 20, 2021

The 4 Ps of better singing: Preparation, Practice, Performance, Presence

Performance skills are vital when learning to sing. Our tips will get you performance ready, so you can enjoy the experience as much as your audience.
May 27, 2021

Get it off your chest: the emotional benefits of a strong chest voice

A strong chest voice gives singers more flexibility and freedom of expression. Sydney singing teacher Kathleen Connell shows you how to achieve it.
March 26, 2021

Zoom fatigue is real: How to relieve its impacts on your voice

Is your voice zoomed out from too many video calls? Sydney singing teacher Kathleen Connell shares vocal exercises you can do on the go.
May 20, 2020

Not sure about learning to sing online?

Thinking of learning to sing? Online singing lessons by video are convenient, fun and a great way to see if it’s for you. Try an intro class with Kathleen Connell.
May 17, 2020

COVID 19 – Studio Information

The health and wellbeing of staff and students is our main priority, and I would like to assure you that precautions are taken at the studio to adhere to strict government protocols.
May 17, 2020

How to get more expressive in your singing

Part of the joy and satisfaction of singing is communicating the meaning and emotion of a song in a way that connects with your audience. Refined vocal skills and technique are important of course, but unless your audience studies singing themselves, they’re not going to notice how well your breath […]
January 22, 2020

Thinking Of Doing Singing For The HSC? What You Need To Know

If you’re planning to do Music 1 or 2 for the HSC, singing tuition with Kathleen can help you achieve top marks.
December 12, 2019

Singing in performance: the icing on the cake for students

Read about how performing in our studio concert can improve your singing and even develop a better functioning brain.
November 19, 2019

How to sing your way to a stronger brain: studies show learning to sing improves your brain function.

Singing isn’t just a fun, creative way to express yourself, it’s scientifically proven to improve your brain performance in all facets of your life.
October 29, 2019

Vocalise Your Way To Better Singing And Performance

If you’ve been learning singing for some time, you probably know your vocal exercises off by heart. And while you know their benefits, you’d be forgiven for finding them a little repetitive and tedious. So, is there a fun, more varied and challenging way to further develop your voice and […]
September 18, 2019

Do You Need To Lose These Bad Singing Posture Habits?

What’s your position on effortless, resonant singing?  If you said, “With an upright posture”, then … take a bow!  It’s the one thing I nag my students about because good posture is crucial to singing well: correct body alignment supports your breath capacity, which supports your voice production. Why does […]
August 26, 2019

What To Expect In A Singing Lesson

If you want to sing better, look for these elements in a singing lesson.  If you’ve never worked with a singing teacher before, or if you want to know why I structure our singing lessons the way I do, here’s a little insight and how it benefits you. Every singing […]
July 11, 2019

How To Keep Your Voice In Top Shape This Winter – One Tip Will Make You Laugh!

With winter upon us, your voice health can be challenged. Colds and flu threaten not only your singing, but your daily voice use, so it’s important to give your vocal cords extra care. Here are 6 ways to protect your voice, and your general health, in the colder months.     […]
June 22, 2019

Let’s Get Physical: Singing Better Starts In Your Body

Even if you’re an accomplished singer, sometimes you need to return to the foundation techniques of a well-functioning voice, to correct any voice weakness and produce an even better sound. I What are these foundations? Breathing and posture, essentially. When you get these right, you’ll enjoy singing better with ease, […]
May 31, 2019

Singing with an open throat – what’s all the fuss?

While the concept of ‘open throat’ singing is widely debated, there’s more to better singing than that. Singing with a well-functioning voice is a whole-body practice involving the foundations of correct posture and proper breathing – without that, your throat muscles close down. Then there are the facial, mouth and […]
February 27, 2019

Why you need to get SMART about your singing goals    

With 2019 still young, now is a great time to set firm goals that stretch your abilities and improve your singing. And to reach those goals, you have to get smart about them. I don’t simply mean clever, but SMART. Make your goals: S= Specific M= Measurable A= Achievable/Attainable R= […]
October 3, 2018

Is Your Tongue Fit and Ready to Sing?

Being free of tension and creating a full rich sound when singing is a singer’s aim. But distinguishing where the tension is coming from, how to release it and create a gorgeous tone takes some discovery, including finding out about the role your tongue root plays in singing. “The root […]
June 29, 2018

Are you stuck in a repertoire rut?

Expand your song choice and hone your technical skills with these classics from The Great American Songbook When it comes to song choice, the simplest option is to return to your go-to song list; those familiar, well-worn songs you know like the back of your hand. But as they say, […]
December 13, 2017

Three weddings and a singing teacher

As singers, we sometimes have the privilege to share our talent with friends and family at special occasions. That’s been the case for several of my students this year, with two of them serenading their new spouse! Read their stories.
December 13, 2017

How to sing at an emotional event (without getting weepy)

Singing at a wedding or other special occasion is one of the most memorable ‘gifts’ you can bestow on a friend or family member. Or even better, it can be an unforgettable surprise for your newly-betrothed. Yet this type of performance comes with an added complication. Emotion. Here are five […]
July 21, 2017

3 things not to do when your voice fails

Many of us don’t think twice about our voice until it’s impaired or lost. And then we panic! Here are three things to avoid doing if you want your voice to return to normal as quickly as possible.
March 14, 2017

Student Profile: How Owen achieved aim to sing opera

Owen Alexander is a Sydney-based singer-songwriter, who works in the furniture industry by day. He started singing lessons with Kathleen Connell in 2016 and set a goal to perform with a local opera group. Here’s how Owen went about making it happen. When it comes to setting singing goals, why […]
December 1, 2016

Do you make this fatal mistake when performing a song?

If there’s one thing that kills an audience’s enjoyment, it’s not clearly hearing the words in a song. Luckily for all the singers (and listeners) out there, the key to clarity is consonants.
September 8, 2016

Learn how to hit the sweet spot with vowel sounds

Singing vowels correctly can be the difference between nailing a performance and losing an audience’s attention completely.
July 7, 2016

Attention singers: Here’s how to connect with your audience (even if you’re shy or nervous)

Have you ever wished your performance skills matched your top-notch singing technique? It’s not uncommon for even advanced singers to feel clueless on stage, but there is help at hand. At a recent performance workshop run by Kathleen Connell Singing Tuition, experienced singer, director and mentor Christine Douglas shared these […]
March 8, 2016

When things go bump in your voice: How to smooth out your register shifts

Hey ladies: ever noticed a bump, crack or click in your middle voice as you shift between registers? Getting the right mix of head and chest voice to create a strong and flavoursome middle voice will ensure a smoother road ahead. When it comes to your middle voice, the first […]
October 26, 2015

Too macho for falsetto? Think again. It’s about strength and agility.

They say nothing worthwhile ever comes easily and that’s certainly the case with singing falsetto. “I can’t get the high notes,” or “my voice sounds croaky up there,” are common complaints with many male singers either taking the key down or abandoning their upper register all together. My advice: don’t […]
July 23, 2015

How to perfect your singing practice

We all know that practice makes perfect, but is there a perfect way to practise? Here are my top tips for making the most of every minute you invest in your voice, as well as how to find time in the first place!
May 13, 2015

How to safely add belt singing to your repertoire

Belt singing is no stranger to controversy, yet there is a way to safely add this bold style to your bag of singing tricks.