A sure guide to great CHoir tone

​This is the first in a series of blogs on producing great tone as a singer or in an ensemble group or band. Just like solo singing requires good tone – choirs sound great when there is good tone. In a group setting it’s difficult to teach every aspect of vocal technique, but there are some core vocal techniques that we include in our rehearsals at MCCHOIR very successfully. Just like your car needs a good tune and service –  over the next few blogs you’ll get my my top tips to keep your choir humming along.

​Proper Breathing:
Proper breathing is essential to good singing. Shallow breathing is OK for talking but singing requires breathing from the diaphragm, rather than shallow clavicular breathing.

Good breathing means:

• The singer can take a measured breath without tightening up
• A singer can get enough air to sing the phrase by breathing from the diaphragm
• Air needs to be released continuously for sustained singing

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Correct breathing starts with good posture. Stand tall with your weight distributed evenly on both feet. Don’t hunch but keep the chest high. When your sitting down – sit forward on the chair and don’t lean back. I don’t over emphasize taking large volumes of air – just take as much air as you need to sing the phrase required no more. Good practice is to place one hand just above your belly button and one on the side rib cage and feel the expansion of the diaphragm as you breathe in.

In the next few blogs I will be looking at voice 101, retraction, resonance, tone, vibrato, warm-ups and tune-ups – all really important for producing great singing tone. 


Jason Simmonds
Creative Director
​Melbourne Contemporary Choir