Why so scared of vocal technique? (Here’s what I think…)

Written By Freya Astrella

When we use our voices, we have almost zero idea what’s going on inside our bodies.

We can’t see the voice, or touch it, or really feel it all. As a result, the voice is shrouded in mystery. And I have often observed that this mystery develops into fear.  

This is clearly heard through singers who declare their disinterest, or even downright distain, for the concept of vocal technique. Yet, much like how atheists replace God with some other ideology or obsession, many singers end up believing bizarre notions of what the voice is and how it works.  

Now, this isn’t going to be a myth-busting session on vocal technique (tempting as that is).

If you want the clear, concrete theory of how the voice works, you’ll have to buy my 3.5 hour online course 10 Steps to a Strong Singing Voice 😉 (Its price is set by the algorithm of the platform, so you can often nab it for less than £15 – shocker, I know!) 

And this isn’t intended to be a character assassination of the many practitioners out there who are, not necessarily selling snake oil, but definitely spreading some odd and unhelpful ideas (tempting again as that is…mwah ha ha!) 

Nah. This blog is just a silly jaunt through a few bizarre things I’ve heard over the years. As well as a huge shout out to the wonderous, artistic, and legit healing powers of vocal technique – ie. how to actually use your voice, body and breath properly, to fully take up sonic space, and feel confident while you do it.  

Teaching singing with vague imagery

Recently, I heard a voice practitioner say that they eventually turned their back on private singing lessons, after enduring endless hours of rigidity and conformity. And fair enough. I too have walked out of singing lessons thinking the money would have been better spent chucked in a fire to provide heating.

But mostly, because I was left frustrated at the lack of depth and clarity.  

One of my first-ever teachers used to say “think of pink fluffy clouds” whenever I reached for a high note. And another used to bark “sing up, think down” (which to be fair, has *some* degree of logic, but only if you know the mechanics that underpin the concept). In any case, an unknowing brain has no idea how to translate such a vague instruction.

Other teachers told me to breathe into my legs. Again, a deep, low breath is generally a good thing. But you can stop at the stomach, mate. No need to go overboard. 😂 

Unfortunately, as I scour the landscape that my alternative-minded contemporaries have already laid out, I’m still left unfulfilled. There is, FOR SURE, a nugget of wisdom in singing “like a tree” or singing “through the rainbow”. But the wisdom is lost in the mist, like a rare mountain gorilla, if it’s not understood properly by both the teacher and student.

Love and gratitude might be buzzing in the air after such an event, but chances are, no real vocal progress has been made.  

Honestly, I regularly attend events such as those described above, and they often feel like a casual jam or just a cash-grab for the latest trend. The powerful potential of proper voice use is sadly disregarded, along with the chances of deep physical and spiritual healing. 

What vocal technique really is

Perhaps, the alternative community thinks that vocal technique is too “square”. People likely think it’s all about trying to achieve the perfect West End or Disney Princess voice. And for some people it is – whatever floats their boat, eh?

But in the most basic sense, vocal technique is just an exploration into what the voice is physically able to achieve. It’s not necessarily about perfection, but it is about eliminating any “bad habits” that could damage your voice.  

Oh? But you’d rather just carry on with your scratchy, hoarse voice, and lose several semi-tones a year for the rest of your life – all in the name of artistic authenticity? OK, well, stop reading now, I suppose. (Meow! Alright...settle down.) 

For those who stayed, I promise you that lifting the bonnet of your voice, understanding the mechanics, and then learning to harness that, is one of the most liberating things you can do!

I don’t know where I would be (in a ditch probably) if it wasn’t for my ability to whack out a huge belt when I was stressed, angry or upset. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: singing is my punchbag. And I’m oh-so grateful for it. 

Belting aside, how many of you struggle to speak in public? Even just to a handful of friends or colleagues? Best man speech horror? Asking for a raise at work? Standing your ground during an argument?  

Once you’ve cracked the code of filling up “sonic space” with a voice that’s in peak condition, you’ll be unstoppable.

In the same way as learning to read and write opens up a world of possibilities. Once you learn the art of communication, you activate your Vishuddha power (throat chakra to the normies 😉) and you’re more capable of making actual personal and societal change. 

OK, I’m getting carried away. But you get the intention. Believe it or not, I was so shy and dysregulated as a child that I was catatonically mute. And now, that I’ve connected with my voice, and developed courage and confidence as a result, I’m utterly passionate about sharing this knowledge with the world.

This is why I get frustrated and sad when I see sleuths of people doing, sorry not sorry, but wrong.  

Fusing science and wisdom to create Voices Rise!

I am sorry, actually. This blog wasn’t meant to be a moan-fest about others. (How about, stop bitching and start working?) Well, critical inner voice, I have you know, that I am working on it! In fact, this whole issue is the nexus of my soul’s purpose.  

Hear me out. I’ve done the maths, and I’m not far off the golden “10,000 hours rule” when it comes to reaching the status of vocal technique expert. And! I’m a born-and-raised hippy with endless knowledge of chakras, colours, crystals, energy fields, frequencies, yada yada...

So, now I am actively stirring my cosmic cauldron and drawing constellations across the sky of how to interlink all of these wonderful things.  

I am devising and test-running a vocal workshop and course on how to map cutting-edge vocal techniques onto the chakra system (which in turn involves, colours, tones, vowels, yoga poses, breathwork, and meditation). Sounds cool, eh? 

For a quick taster, the throat chakra, since we’ve already mentioned it, is centred around a technique called “twang”.

Twang is an intensely loud and high-frequency sound that anyone can easily make – usually through screaming like a child or crying like a baby. It’s a terrifying, primal sound (cackling witch, howling banshee…).

I then mix this technique with a visualisation of something you really want to say to someone but are terrified too, and feeling the energy rise in your body when you imagine actually saying it – then actually screaming it out loud, using twang.

Not forgetting, a wholesome warm-up using the appropriate vowel shape, musical pitch and yoga poses associated with the said chakra.  

Sound scary? Good! Follow the fear and see where it takes you, and I’ll see you at a festival or workshop for a massive screaming sesh soon. 😉 

The power of vocal technique is waiting for you

Jokes aside, it’s not all about making a racket. It’s about releasing all the untapped potential that’s locked inside your larynx.

Ever tried belting with full-body engagement? Ever tried sensual breathy onsets and offsets? Every relaxed your voice into a creaky puddle? Ever tried assertive growling? Ever tried joyful falsetto flips?  

But most importantly for the performers out there: can you do these techniques on demand? Does your voice let you down and fail you? Do you feel unsure about your relationship with your voice? Does it abandon you without rhyme or reason? 

Vocal technique is like training a dog. Teach it tricks and it will love you. Activate the power of your voice and it will always be there for you.  

I know the grief and horror of having a broken body (see blog Lessons from Pain). You feel lifeless, trapped, and frustrated. And it’s no different when it’s your voice. It’s time we started taking this notion seriously.

And I’m on a one-woman mission to make it happen. 💪  

This blog was written by Freya Astrella, an expert vocal coach in East Sussex, UK.

Freya is a bonafide vocal technique expert and is one of the only teachers in the region to have gained Estill Voice certification. Freya holds a First Class BA(hons) in Professional Musicianship, a VocalTech Diploma, and a Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance. She is currently undertaking the Vocal Process teacher training course.

Freya has taught all ages and abilities at BIMM, Access To Music, The Academy of Music And Sound, TheatreTrain, Stagecoach, and The Rock Project. She currently coaches at Rhapsody Artist Development in Seaford. Furthermore, Freya was a lead writer for VoiceCouncil.com, which was the biggest online resource for singers.

Freya Astrella
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