How to Get More Power and Volume Out of Your Voice Without Strain or Struggle

Most singers think more power or volume, or belting higher notes, has to do with pushing more air past the cords. But that only ends up causing strain and struggle. Real power and volume come from knowing how to use the instrument correctly, taking the strain off the throat and providing the proper support from the body. It is also accomplished by developing the voice with vocal technique that builds the core strength, overtone series and legato line. 

To avoid strain and burnout, start strengthening your voice with techniques that will create a healthy strong vocal instrument. It’s important to train with the right method. A strong vocal technique will build the voice so you can sing with more power and volume without the strain or struggle that an undeveloped voice falls into. Read more about the Cole Vocal Method here. 

Plus, no matter how strong your voice is, there is a natural strain and “wear and tear” on the voice in performance. The impact of a live concert and the strain on the voice, is irrefutable. Singing is an athletic event. Singers are athletes of the voice and breathing. 

Dr. Peak Woo (an internationally recognized laryngologist, clinical research scientist, and author of Stroboscopy) said that the physical effect of a 45-minute vocal performance is equivalent to a 2-hour football game for a linebacker.

Like athletes, it is imperative that singers train or they are going to inevitably end up with injuries or issues. You can avoid all of that with the right training. 

Today’s blog will show you some tools for how to get more power and volume out of your singing voice while avoiding strain or struggle. 

1. Voice building techniques 

To sing with more power and volume without strain, you need a strong voice. A voice that is technically strong and developed at the core foundation in healthy singing. 

A voice that sings with volume and power is a strong voice. Weak voices will have a hard time with producing volume without tearing up the throat and placing unnecessary pressure and strain on the vocal cords. 

The right voice building techniques and methods will do this for you. 

By using a system of specific voice building techniques inside my Cole Vocal Method that are designed to target and strengthen the vocal instrument, wthe singer builds the foundation of the core muscles of the voice and breathing. 

Similar to a world class athlete working with an Olympic coach to improve their skill and performance, these exercises build the strength, tone and skill of the singing voice with health at the forefront to avoid strain. This technique and process builds a powerful and professional singing voice.

Our voice building system is called the Master Voice Building Exercises which are Part III inside of Level I of the method taught in my Vocal Freedom Circle. Read more about the Cole Vocal Method and the Vocal Freedom Circle here. 

2. The right support using the “trunk” of the body

The support for the singing voice is provided by a series of muscles in the trunk of the body. Strengthening the support of these muscles helps to unlock the power and resonance of the singing voice. Starting with the pectoral muscles, they help to anchor the laryngeal muscles and give it more strength and power against the air pressure from the lungs and breath.

Sternum and chest position (alignment) is also paramount to singing loudly without strain. I want to mention the position of the sternum and chest here because without a high position here, the voice will always fall into the throat. Keeping the chest lifted (in a natural way) provides additional support and frees the diaphragm. We use specific techniques within The Cole Vocal Method™ to establish the use of the chest and sternum in supporting the singing voice.

Next the Intercostal muscles particularly in the back provide more support for the voice. Using these muscles in a “wing” like expanded fashion keeps the diaphragm down, keeping air in the lungs. This is a more advanced technique once alignment and breathing are restored and the ribcage and diaphragm are more free.

Singing requires using the abdominal muscles quite a bit in vocal production. The overuse of the abdominal muscles before the chain of muscles above is utilized correctly can result in a tense, hoarse and nasal voice. Once the correct support is established the abdominal muscles can engage in a way that strengthens the sound and power of the voice.

Chest Press Exercise 1: 

• Lift the chest upwards towards the chin and keep the back flat.
• Activate your pectoral muscles by squeezing the insides of your upper ams to your body like a hug.
• Relax the back of your neck while you do this.
• Exhale while flexing the pectorals without letting the chest fall.
• This is a physical exercise that overtime will teach your body how to not drop the chest during singing. This action will produce more power in the voice.
• Follow up with Chest Press Exercise 2 in #3 below. 

Tip: Daily pushups will help strengthen your pectoral muscles that need to be strong for a good “belt” voice. The best pushups for singers are done into a door jam where you can stretch the pectoral further than you would on a regular pushup. These are performed to stretch the pectorals while you strengthen them. 

3. The point of resistance or “appoggio” 

One of the keys to volume and power stems from where you establish “resistance” or the pressure you feel during singing. You don’t want to belt from the throat as that will destroy your voice over time if not immediately. The best way to take the belt off the throat muscles is to use the strength of your body instead.

In vocal technique, the “point of appoggio” refers to the point of maximum muscular tension experienced during singing. Many singers who do not have a good established vocal technique feel the “point of appoggio” at their throat or back of their neck (or both).

In correct vocal technique, you practice feeling the “point of appoggio” at your sternum/chest area which takes the pressure/tension off of the throat, neck and jaw.

We accomplish this with a technique called the “sternum / chest press.” We apply pressure on the chest plate about 5” down from the collarbone in the middle of the chest. Press your fingers on the chest with the backs of your fingers together pointing on the chest. Apply that pressure against a lifted chest (without arching the back) while maintaining relaxed shoulders that are dropped back and down and a soft relaxed neck/throat. In other words, the only tension you want to feel is the pressure at your chest while the head and neck remain free of tension.

Practice this while conducting a simple breathing exercise of 10 slow inhales and exhales without dropping the chest. Let the pressure from your fingers do the work to keep your chest lifted. The harder they press the easier it will be for your chest to remain up. Maintain the high chest throughout inhalation and exhalation. This is a great start to programming the correct muscle memory for your singing voice. Remember to relax the back of the neck while you maintain pressure on the chest.

Try this: 

Chest Press Exercise 2: 

• Lift your chest up towards your chin to maintain a high chest and at the same time, flatten the back to avoid arching.
• Press the fingers of both hands on the chest at the level of the bottom of the pectoral muscles
• Sing through an octave scale on the AH vowel using the “AW” pronunciation to create more depth.
• Go up and down maintaining pressure at the chest and keeping the head and neck free.
• Use more pressure to help to smooth out the passaggio. 

4. Drinking the tone or drawing the sound inward 

Oftentimes singers experience strain when they use more volume or sing for a long periods of time. This comes from pushing air or squeezing muscles to produce more sound. However, this only mutes the sound and causes strain. 

We use an approach in our Cole Vocal Method where the singer imagines drawing the sound inward instead of outward producing more sound with less strain. This is referred to as “drinking the tone” or “drawing the sound inward” towards them instead of pushing it forward. This immediately gives more sound and allows the voice to resonate and resound freely creating more volume with less effort. 

Vocal strain will constrict or limit volume. The more you can train to open up your voice (using my Cole Vocal Method taught in my Vocal Freedom Circle) the more volume and power you will experience in your singing voice. 

Try this:  

I use this technique inside my method called “drinking the tone” that really helps to improve volume.

• Put your hand out in front of you with your fingers facing your face.
• Lift your chest upwards toward your chin to elevate the chest during singing.
• Sing an “AHHHHH” keeping your chest raised and move the fingers towards you imagining that you are “drinking the sound”.
• Let the sound come “towards you” instead of pushing it outward.
• Do you notice that the sound comes out a little easier?
• This technique is one of the many techniques inside my method that help singers learn how to sing with more volume and sound with less effort.

5. Developing the overtone series 

An overtone is any resonant frequency above the fundamental frequency of a sound. Overtones are higher than the lowest pitch within an individual sound; the fundamental is the lowest pitch. While the fundamental is usually heard most prominently, overtones are what fill out the sound in an accomplished voice.

Vocal power and strength are the sign of a strong and healthy vocal instrument. Once the voice is set free by releasing tensions, establishing the right alignment and breath support, and developing the right placement, we can work on developing true power and strength. 

Power comes from vocal strength that is developed through vocal technique in developing the overtone series. A big voice can get quite small. 

Through a series of exercises designed to target true vocal power and strength, we develop these aspects of the professional singing voice so the singer has power, endurance and can sing for hours without strain.

Try this: 

• How small can you sing and still keep the tone (not sound breathy)?
• Practice singing from soft to medium loud to start managing moving into singing with more power.
• Practice singing vowels on one pitch. We have an exercise inside Module 8 of the Vocal Freedom Circle (where you learn the Cole Vocal Method) called One Pitch. This exercise builds vocal power by singing on one pitch. Often when the voice is not strong enough it will wobble or wiggle around and training the voice to sing on one pitch helps to establish a stable base from which to sing with more power.
• Sing AH-AY-EE-EYE-OH – and hold the OH for 3 counts into OO. Hold out the OO as long as you can. Start in a comfortable part of your range and move through your scale. Click here to visit The Vocal Freedom Circle and learn the method.

Building a powerful and professional voice is the goal of many aspiring singers. The good news is that it is possible. Wherever your voice is right now can vastly be improved.

The Cole Vocal Method™ is a professional singing technique that builds the true potential of any singers’ voice. It strips away the compensatory muscles and develops the core foundation of the voice without changing your style or uniqueness. No matter whether you have trained in the past or are just starting out, The Cole Vocal Method™ will build a powerful and professional singing voice and help you reach your vocal dreams.

The Cole Vocal Method™ is a holistic singing system that dramatically improves the production and performance of the singing voice. It is a complete method of exercises that address the mechanics of the voice, stripping away compensatory tensions and strengthening the core function of the voice. A great technique improves the technical voice, but won’t take away your style or individuality. The right method is key. Experience the path to vocal freedom.

Like an Olympic coach improving the performance of an athlete, this method, through a sophisticated physical system of vocal technique, improves vocal technique and performance of the singing voice. The Cole Vocal Method™ was built over 3 generations and many decades of teaching professional singers. It comes from a true form of singing and regards the health of the voice as integral to vocal production throughout all of the exercises and approaches.

The exercises contained within The Cole Vocal Method™ Level I are: 

1. The Singers Gift Vocal Warm Ups: Cari developed the Singers Gift Vocal Warm Ups to open and free the singing voice for performance. She uses holistic innovative methods to open the throat, decrease and eliminate tension improving overall performance and endurance. Click here to learn more about the Singers Gift Vocal Warmups. 

2. Vocal Therapy exercises: The Vocal Rescue Kit: The only vocal therapy exercise system of its kind, Cari’s Vocal Rescue Kit is a complete system of vocal therapy exercises to restore the singing and speaking voice. Comes with cool down therapy to reduce inflammation at the vocal folds. Includes a 3 part series of the latest holistic approaches and vocal remedies. Click here to learn more about the Vocal Rescue Kit. 

3. Master Voice Building Exercises: This advanced master voice building technique system builds the singing voice from the foundation up or onto an existing technique. The method strips away the compensatory muscles to develop the core vocal muscles and overtone series. Based in Bel Canto but altered to fit the modern vocalist, this holistic method focuses on the health and science of the singing voice. Over 38 exercises on audio + guided daily practice videos. 
Click here to learn more about the Master Voice Building Exercises taught inside The Vocal Freedom Circle.

4. The Fundamentals: Part of Cari’s method, these four fundamental exercises develop a stronger, more dynamic instrument with a wider palette of options. Improve range, strength and vocal agility.

If you’re looking for a proven method to help you achieve a strong voice that won’t let you down when it matters most, I’d like to invite you to join my Vocal Freedom Circle 8-week online program. This is an online program that teaches you my The Cole Vocal Method that helps you build an award winning professional voice.

Come learn The Cole Vocal Method™ inside The Vocal Freedom Circle. Over 75+ downloadable digital vocal exercises on audio + video with an instructional guidebook. Click here to learn more.