By Cheryl Porter
One of the biggest secrets to great singing is something most singers overlook. Your speaking voice. If you cannot clearly say a phrase, you are going to struggle to sing it with power, clarity, and rhythm. That is why I always say, if you can’t say it, you can’t sing it. And once you start training both, you will see your vocal confidence skyrocket.
Singing Starts with Speaking
Great singing is really just expressive speaking on pitch. You are not just hitting notes. You are delivering a message. If your words are unclear or your rhythm is off when you speak, your singing will carry the same problems.
I have seen singers with beautiful tones still struggle to connect emotionally. And it is because they have never practiced shaping the phrase in their mouth before vocalizing it.
Use Speech to Build Rhythm
Before we ever sing a phrase, I often have my students speak it like an actor would. Emphasize the strong words. Feel the rhythm of the sentence. This builds the natural musicality of the phrase. And if that speech feels awkward or rushed, we fix it before we sing it.
This is especially true with fast runs and riffs. If you cannot say the pattern clearly, you will never sing it cleanly. That is why I use tools like finger twister exercises to lock in that speech movement connection. It turns chaos into clarity.
Articulation Builds Confidence
When you are confident in how the phrase feels in your mouth, your brain relaxes. And when your brain is calm, your pitch, timing, and expression improve instantly. It is a chain reaction.
Practicing clear diction and expressive speech gives you more control when the melody comes in. You are not guessing where the rhythm falls or how the words should land. You already know.
How to Practice This at Home
- Speak the lyrics like a monologue. Do not sing yet. Just feel the pacing and emotion.
- Mark the rhythm with your hands. Tap or gesture to bring the beat into your body.
- Repeat the phrase slowly. Say it clean and clear three times before singing it.
- Add melody once the speech feels natural. You will notice a smoother, more grounded delivery.
This might feel different at first, but once you try it, you will wonder why you ever skipped this step before.
Final Thoughts from Cheryl
Next time you learn a song, do not just jump into the notes. Speak the lyrics out loud. Feel their weight. Shape the rhythm with your hands. Build that foundation before adding melody.
Because if you can speak with power and clarity, your voice will follow and sing with the same strength.
