How to Sing Better: Best Vocal Techniques + Practices to Train Your Singing Voice

Singers are athletes of the small muscles of the voice and breathing. Singing is a physical event. And like athletes, singers need to train to improve performance and consistency—and to maintain vocal health and endurance. 

Today I’m sharing 5 secrets of an Olympic-level vocal training. Each technique is an integral part of a strong, resilient, and healthy voice.

You can have a voice that holds up and delivers powerful performances on a professional level. It’s all in the technique. 

1. Commitment 

We can’t talk about Olympic level anything without talking about commitment. 

It’s not enough to have a good voice. 

You need a voice that can deliver in all conditions and circumstances. After you’ve been up all night or singing for 3 months on tour. You need a voice that sounds great on your worst day—when you need it the most.

Commitment is the foundation of success. 

How strong is your commitment?

2. Your Daily “Devotional” Practice 

Olympians train every day. It’s really no different for singers, except I prefer to give 1-2 days off for vocal rest which is important for vocal health.

You train to strengthen your voice so you can hold up to the demands of singing professionally, but also to protect your vocal health. The stronger and healthier your voice is, the more longevity you will have. 

Luciano Pavarotti (one of the worlds greatest tenors) called his technique practice his “devotional” practice. 

“People think I’m disciplined. It is not discipline. It is devotion. There is a great difference.”

~ Luciano Pavarotti 

A strong effective professional practice is: 

20 minutes a day (minimum). 

5 days a week. 

And—your voice requires different techniques from day 

to day depending on your performance schedule

and the condition of your voice.

3. Vocal Technique 

The right vocal technique builds a strong professional voice, improves performance and protects the vocal health of the singer. 

The Cole Vocal Method™

The Cole Vocal Method™ is a world-class vocal technique. It dramatically improves the athletic performance of the singer by strengthening the core instrument and natural voice (without manipulating the sound), builds the complete overtone series, the “legato voice”, and includes the level of detail of all of the bells and whistles of the voice—providing a seamless path to peak performance and standing ovations.

These are some of the different techniques inside The Cole Vocal Method™ we use to keep singers voices in their best performance shape. The techniques in this method are highly effective and often transformational for the singer.

• Warmups: The CVM warmups open and prepare the voice for performance and extending range and avoiding early fatigue.
• Voice Building: The CVM voice-building techniques develop the complete overtone series and “legato” voice (smooth connections between notes) dramatically improving overall color, tone, strength, endurance, and range.
• Cool downs: The CVM cool down techniques reduce inflammation post show, and can be used pre-show for voices that are on tour or “over-singing”.
• Vocal health + maintenance: The CVM utilizes special techniques, methods, and natural remedies to maintain vocal health on and off tour.
• Vocal therapy: The CVM uses specific vocal therapy techniques to restore and recover the voice back to health and to maintain vocal health between performances.

The Cole Vocal Method™ is taught in The Vocal Freedom Circle or in studying privately with Cari Cole. 

To find out more about our Vocal Freedom Circle click here. 

To find out more about training with Cari Cole privately click here. 

4. Vocal Health + Maintenance 

All professional singers experience the “wear and tear” from performing night after night. Taking care of your vocal health protects your singing career. 

Celine Dion in her decades long stint in Vegas would tap morse code to her husband to keep from talking between performances. 

Her voice needed rest to recover. 

In The CVM I utilize vocal therapy techniques, methodologies, and natural remedies vocal to maintain vocal health. The vocal therapy techniques include exercises that restore and recover the voice, helping to resolve throat problems stemming from incorrect singing, vocal fatigue or hoarseness. These vocal therapy exercises also address voice placement and the speaking voice which can ruin the singing voice.

You’ll find these exercises in my Vocal Rescue Kit.

Or you can come learn these exercises and my entire method in my Vocal Freedom Circle or in private sessions.

5. Mindset + Performance Training 

At the end of the day, what separates those that achieve in performance and those that don’t— comes down to MINDSET. 

Imagine yourself in a race with another athlete. You both  have the same technical ability, but who wins? The athlete with the stronger mindset. 

 Mindset training + visualization is scientifically proven with Olympic athletes to dramatically improve results up to 35%. Focus, positive visualization, self-talk, are all a part of mindset training.  

“I’ve been singing professionally for 20 years, and The Cole Vocal Method is night and day from any training I’ve ever had. I was having major vocal issues, could barely speak, and after 3 short months, I have more vocal control than I’ve ever had before. Learning the really solid foundations of this technique and vocal health was huge for me. I never had felt that much confidence and power in my voice before. Now I can even express more emotionally too. I can’t believe the difference, honestly. Thank you Cari!” 

~ Mel Keith

“I am currently working as an actress/singer in a professional theatre production. We have full-time rehearsals 5 days a week. Now after working with Cari’s method and The Vocal Freedom Circle, in just 3 months, my voice is not only sounding better than ever before, it is keeping up, and is way more reliable for the first time ever. I am no longer getting hoarse or losing my voice. I have struggled with this for my whole life! I have also been hitting a high A (almost two octaves above middle C) a couple of times now. This is just amazing. Thank you!!”

~ Charlotte Beerda 

“Cari’s vocal method is incredible! When I started writing and recording 4 years ago, I felt like there was a performer hidden inside of me that was waiting to come out. I had this deep desire to express the full range of emotions in a wild, powerful way, and express my full artistic vision through my voice. In just a few months of using Cari’s vocal method, I feel I am closer than ever to that dream. The Method has brought more tone, power, and belt to my voice, and most importantly given me more access to the authentic voice inside of me so I can sing more freely. It can be hard to create a disciplined daily practice, but when you really see the results and have fun doing it, it’s easy. I will be using this for so many years to come, and I am so grateful to have found Cari and this resource that keeps on giving!

~ Tess Posner

“I have taken lessons from many different coaches over the years, but with Cari, it was different. Her approach goes deep, so you can really understand the concepts and learn from the basics. The voice is an instrument, and with the right approach, you can learn to control it. Cari’s personalized feedback and guidance helped me understand my voice better and improve my technique. She is not just a vocal coach but a mentor who genuinely cares about her students’ progress and well-being. Thanks to her, I have gained a newfound confidence in my voice and my abilities, and I’m excited to continue working with her to reach new heights in my singing and songwriting career.”

~ Sam Shaky 

The Cole Vocal Method™ is taught in The Vocal Freedom Circle or in studying privately with Cari Cole. 

To find out more about our Vocal Freedom Circle click here. 

To find out more about training with Cari Cole privately click here.