Ready to Sing Better? 5 Strategies to Try Today to Banish Fear and Doubt

You’re in the audition of a lifetime, running up to the high note. But suddenly fear strikes, and you start second guessing whether you’re going to hit it. Your throat  tightens, and …

Yep. The shocked look on the judges’ faces confirms it. You just cracked on the money note. 

Embarrassment lights your face on fire as the room goes silent for an agonizing few seconds. And then the worst sound a performer could imagine permeates the air …

“Next, please.”

So how are you supposed to learn to sing better when fear and self-doubt keep creeping in? You know how you want to sound, but you just can’t seem to get your voice to do what you want it to.

I’m Philippe Hall, owner of Singing Revealed, and this week on the Voice ViBE podcast, we chatted with Greg West to find out how he went from his first failed audition to going viral on YouTube.

So if you’ve been struggling to sing better but the doubt and fear are holding you back, this blog is for you.

Let’s go ahead and dive in!

Can You Really Learn How to Sing Better?

Absolutely! And improving your singing voice is easier when you have help and advice from people who have already faced their own singing struggles.

But with the overwhelming number of singing tips out there, how are you supposed to know who to listen to so you can learn to sing better? You can scroll yourself into a black hole before you might find the right tips that work for your voice.

With decades of experience as a professional singer, I know how frustrating it is to scour the internet for singing advice. That’s why I’m so passionate about sharing my love and knowledge of singing.

In fact, the thing that has impressed me most about Greg is his dedication to learning how to become a better singer. 

Before Greg West – owner of Studio West – went viral with his 3 Year Singing Transformation video on YouTube, he used to wonder what was wrong with his voice.

He would hear other singers around him hitting the notes. Why can’t I do that? he wondered.

Then, after a spectacularly bad audition as a teenager, Greg realized he had a decision to make. Was he going to give up on his passion because of one disappointment? 

Nope! He allowed his setback to fuel his passion to learn how to sing better. 

Let’s go ahead and dive into the first way you can improve your singing voice.

Track Your Progress to See How Far You’ve Come

After Greg’s disappointing audition when he was 17, he could’ve let his harsh reality get him down. He could’ve given up right then. 

He’d been struggling to:

• match his voice’s pitch with the piano
• extend his vocal range
• stay positive
• keep his voice tension free

So Greg started recording himself as he practiced to track his progress. Over the next few years, he recorded himself singing small snippets of songs. 

What he found was that he could actually hear the progress he was making. Through consistent practice, he was getting better.

When you realize you’re improving at your craft, that’s when the doubt and fear start to melt away. Because now you have evidence that you can do this. You can set out to learn how to sing better and come out the other side a talented vocalist.

In this next section, we’ll find out how singing helped Greg through a rough period in his life.

Singing Can Help Boost Your Mental Health

Greg credits his singing journey with helping him overcome his depression. Because he could see the progress he was making. No matter how fast or slow it’s taking you to learn to sing better, it will happen with time. 

Greg notes that it was hard for him to be depressed while he was singing, because …

• It’s an extremely stimulative activity.
• It demands focus and concentration.
• There are so many sensations happening in your body when you sing.
• He had a practice routine.

By tracking his progress over the years, Greg could actually hear how he was finally able to:

• hit those high notes
• sing the styles he’d always wanted to
• maintain a smooth vibrato
• sing without tension

On his practice recordings, he had solid evidence of the improvements he was making, which boosted his self-confidence.

Take heart, knowing you don’t have to have overnight wins. Success comes with many small, consistent efforts over time.

Next, let’s dive into why keeping an open mind helps you to sing better.

Importance of a Growth Mindset in Singing

Greg embraced the belief he could do anything. In other words, he approached his singing with a growth mindset. 

So what does this mean for you? How do you keep an open mind if you’re struggling to hit the notes right now? Or worse, what if other people are telling you you’re no good?

When I started my singing journey, I faced doubts and criticism from others. In fact, one of my university professors told me that my auditions were terrible.

Talk about a punch to the gut. But I was committed to improving my craft, and I wasn’t about to let someone else tell me I couldn’t get there. Keeping an open mind about how far I could go actually got me where I am today.

So if someone tells you …

• you’re not good enough
• you’ll never make it as a singer
• you should choose another profession
• you just don’t have what it takes
• your voice isn’t versatile or strong enough

… then frankly, don't listen to them.

Start practicing and prove those naysayers wrong. If you want to become a better singer and you’re willing to put in the hours of practice to get there, you can become the singer you’ve always wanted to be.

But even with practice, sometimes you still might feel like you’re not improving like you’d hoped to. Let’s talk about why it’s okay to experience setbacks as you’re learning how to sing better.

Why It’s Okay to Fail When You’re Learning How to Sing

Failure is a big part of the learning process. Greg says he used his setbacks as opportunities to learn new techniques and work harder to find the sounds he was looking for.

It’s okay if you don’t hit the money note every time. Why? Because when you “fail,” you have the chance to …

• analyze where you can do better next time
• gain increased motivation to improve
• seek help from other singers who are more experienced
• develop resilience to withstand other disappointments

One thing that helps you build resilience as a singer is joining a supportive community of other singers. A place where you feel safe to share your disappointments and frustrations and get the encouragement you need to keep practicing. the ViBE 

The highlight of this podcast (Episode 01) of the Voice ViBE was when Greg shared a little known secret to his success. In this next section, we’ll find out why sometimes obsessions can actually be healthy.

Greg’s Secret to Singing Success

Okay, I know what you’re thinking. The word “obsession" is associated with unhealthy behavior. But in Greg’s case, obsessions proved to be the secret to his singing success!

Greg realized he liked certain qualities in other people’s voices – sounds that he couldn’t yet make with his own voice. But sounds he wanted to make.

And after rehearsing these sounds over and over – so many times they became his mini-singing obsessions – he discovered he could master them himself.

Some of the vocal elements he wanted to master were …

• breathy vocals
• an increase in his range
• the ability to belt
• a smooth vibrato
• mastering the mix style

Okay, so let’s back up a second. Greg knew the sounds he wanted to mimic, but how did he get there? 

Greg let himself go ahead and “obsess” about each vocal element. Until he mastered each one.

His process looks like this:

• Find a singer whose sound you love and want to mimic. For example, if you like Jason Mraz’s breathy vocals, choose one line from your favorite Jason Mraz song and listen to it over and over until it’s memorized. Then:

• record yourself singing the phrase
• listen to your recording
• listen to the singer again
• then note the exact point where you didn’t sound like the singer
• repeat until you’ve mastered the breathy sound you’re after

• Find a mentor to help make sure you’re singing correctly. Greg notes that it’s okay to find another singer to mentor you. One who sings the style you want to learn. But to truly make sure you’re singing in the most healthy way, consider beginning lessons with a voice teacher. 

Four years ago Greg drove from LA to Las Vegas to take a voice lesson. Not everybody demonstrates this kind of commitment. He was “obsessed” in the best possible meaning of the word, with his singing progress. To this day Greg says, “it was the best voice lesson I’ve ever had.” Who did Greg drive to Las Vegas to be coached by? You guessed it, Philippe Hall. 

A voice teacher helps you know when you’re singing with correct technique so you don’t strain or injure your voice. This is exactly what I focus on with my students in my studio.

Drawing from my training and experience, I guide you through vocal exercises tailored to your voice that both avoid strain and enhance your natural talent.

1. Greg recommends having many mini-singing obsessions. Think of how you used flashcards in high school to practice for a test. You read the word or phrase, recalled its definition, and then moved on to the next word.

So how does this translate to you singing beautiful runs like your favorite pop singer? Here’s how:

• Write each vocal element you’ve been practicing on a flashcard.
• During your vocal practice, cycle through the different techniques and sounds.
• Don’t worry if you forget how to perform an element between practice sessions. When you learn, forget, and re-learn a style, it helps you become a better singer each time.
• Learning to be consistent with one vocal technique helps you be consistent in all your techniques.

Greg’s mini-singing obsessions helped him become the singer he is today. They taught him the value of hard work and the importance of consistency. He laser-focused on what vocal elements he wanted to learn, and then he practiced until he mastered them. And then kept practicing!

In this last section, we’ll dive into why asking for help is key to improving your singing voice.

Why Asking for Help Is a Key Step in Your Journey to Sing Better

It’s hard to go it alone. Especially when you’re trying to become a better singer. So it’s okay to ask for help.

✨ After all, your dream is to share your music.

Working with a knowledgeable singing teacher helps you …

• understand why you keep cracking on those high notes
• learn how to reach those low notes
• find ways to share your talent
• know if you’re actually practicing correctly
• find vocal exercises tailored to help you sing better

If you’re ready to learn to sing better, click here to schedule a free consultation with Philippe Hall today.

Make sure to join us for our next episode of the Voice ViBE podcast, every Tuesday at 11:11 EST. Each week we go in-depth on the all things voice!

Ready for some personalized feedback? Come check out our all-new community, the ViBE. As a member of the ViBE, you’ll get the inspiring support you need to reach your vocal potential. A safe place to grow, to learn, to share, to encourage … to ViBE.

See you on the inside!