The #1 Question Every Singer Should Be Asking

Author

Ivan Lu
May 16, 2025

The #1 Question Every Singer Should Be Asking

What is the ACTUAL challenge with your singing?

I think this is an important question to always be asking yourself.

Often I see singers who are trying to learn it on their own.

And they receive all kinds of advice from the internet.

And what happens overtime we start to really chase down these rabbit holes

Without ever taking a step back and wondering?

Is this the actual challenge?

For example I came across this Reddit post, and this person was quite fixated on learning how to “sing from the diaphragm”. A common piece of advice you see online.

Now what was interesting is that I went to investigate a bit deeper.

I know for a fact, many people over index on breath support.

And so I asked, what is the ACTUAL challenge that they’re noticing with their singing.

And this user said,

Now what’s interesting is that generally when someone sounds like they are “talking” when they sing.

There can actually be a couple of reasons.

(1) They’re singing too soft

(2) They’re singing to choppy

(3) They’re are singing TOO low.

Most commonly the 3rd one.

The answer to these challenges, especially the last one is not just BREATH support.

And so this is why it’s so important to be chasing the right problem! Otherwise you might apply the wrong solution.

So today, let me share with you how we can start to help you make sure you’re tackling the right problem! I’ll lay down some of the basics on how the voice works, some tests to help point you in the right direction. And i’ll also share with you some things to try improve it based on the tests.

Real quick! For those of you who don’t know me. My name is Ivan, I love making music and also teaching singing to students all around the world. On this newsletter my goal is to make learning to sing simple. If that’s up your lane, consider subscribing. If you want to improve your voice faster, check out the links down below for ways to work with me

If you want to inspire our next episode! Drop in the comments below what you want me to talk about next.

Step 1: So let’s start with some basic anatomy

I think if we were just a bit clear on how the voice actually works.

This might save the confusion.

So let me give you a very simplified version of how the voice works. Keep in mind, is it a system. So things can affect each other.

Basically you blow air against your vocal folds.

This creates a buzz which gets shaped and amplified by the shape of your throat.

Now there’s more to it! The vocal folds aren’t this static resistance. Whilst you’re blowing air, there are 2 important functions happening.

  1. Your vocal folds stretch (the more stretched, the higher your pitch)

  2. Your vocal folds close together (the more they close, the stronger your voice)

And so this is why I think people can over index on “singing from the diaphragm”.

Notice it’s not even the muscle that helps you change pitch, yet so many people focus on it to sing higher notes.

Now of course it can help indirectly.

For example if you’re not pushing so much air, it’s stable, then it gives a bit more space for the vocal folds to stretch.

But that’s assuming you actually stretch.

What if you don’t?

No matter how you use your air “correctly”

Some of us will have that feeling of running into this wall. Unless you start developing the muscles that stretch.

Step 2: Now of all this is just theory. Let’s do some testing

Now caveat, these tests are simply to give you a more educated guess.

Having a good teacher listen and work with your voice is always to be more useful than a video alone.

So if this is an option for you. I would highly recommend at least booking in a session with me to figure out what’s the REAL challenge.

Anyway let’s start

Test 1: Can you hold out a stable hiss or note ?

(See video for demonstration)

What we’re testing here is how well can you keep a stable amount of air against some form of resistance. You can either do it on a HISS or a HUM.

If you can’t do this: this generally means you need to work on keeping airflow more stable.

Test 2: Can you find these precise taps like this?

(See video for demonstration)

This is testing your ability to close your cords with precision.

The key here is loose yet precise.

So it’s not over-squeezed, laboured. But there is a precision to it.

If you get something breathy or overly squeezed. This means your closure needs work. It might be a bit too clumsy at the moment.

Test 3: Can you go up and down a scale at a speaking volume without ANYTHING changing but pitch?

This means no changes in the volume

No changes in the vowel

No changes in the posture.

If you can’t do this! This means you need to work on isolating the stretching mechanism of your voice.

Anyway! That’s all. Let me know if there’s anything I missed. If you found this episode useful, please share or give it 5 star wherever you’re listening from. This really helps spread the word and means the world to me. If you’d like to study with me, links are down in description. Take care!

🌍 Book Private Singing Lessons here: https://calendly.com/singingsimply 

🌍 Stream my music: https://linktr.ee/singingsimply

🌍 Business/other inquiries: [email protected]