Singing Simple Songs

Your Amazing Singing Voice#

Everyone has a singing voice — including YOU! Your voice is the most personal instrument in the world. No two voices in the whole world sound exactly the same. Your voice is uniquely yours.

How Dös Singing Work?#

When you speak and sing, you use your voice box (called the larynx) in your throat. Inside your voice box are two tiny folds of tissue called vocal cords. When air from your lungs passes through your vocal cords, they vibrate (shake very fast) and make sound.

Your mouth, tongü, teeth, and lips shape those sounds into words and notes.

The Singing Voice vs. Speaking Voice#

You have two main ways of using your voice:

Speaking voice — The voice you use every day to talk to people. It is usually lower and not musical.

Singing voice — A special, more focused way of producing sound. It is usually higher, clearer, and more connected to a melody.

Fun fact: Your singing voice is sometimes called your "head voice" because the sound resonates (bounces) inside your head and chest.

Taking Care of Your Voice#

Your voice is a delicate instrument — you need to take care of it!

• Drink water — your vocal cords need to be moist to work well
• Rest your voice — if your throat feels sore, speak and sing softly
• Do not yell or scream — this can hurt your vocal cords
• Warm up — just like an athlete warms up their muscles, singers warm up their voices before performing

Warming Up Your Voice#

Here are simple warm-ups:

1. Lip trills — blow air through your closed lips so they vibrate and trill
2. Humming — hum a simple tune to warm up gently
3. Sirens — make a siren sound going from low to high and back down
4. Vowel slides — sing "ooooh" from a low note to a high note

Everyone Can Sing!#

Some children worry that they "cannot sing." But singing is a skill that improves with practice. Even if your voice wavers at first, keep singing! Your voice will grow stronger and more controlled over time.