Why I Emphasise Building a Strong Vocal Foundation

The Universal Truths of Singing

I teach singers from many different backgrounds, from classical to jazz, musical theatre to contemporary styles, and many of my students enjoy traversing between genres. Not all of them begin that way, but over time, many discover a genuine love for exploring multiple styles of singing.

One of the first things I ask in an initial lesson to get to know the student is:

Who are your favourite artists, works, or productions? And if you could sing purely for enjoyment, what piece would you choose?

From that moment, I begin thinking about the student’s long-term goals and artistic direction. But equally important in those early lessons is establishing a strong technical foundation.

I’m constantly asking myself:

What core principles of singing do I need to impart so this student can become a versatile and expressive singer — whether in one genre or many?

Naturally, posture and breathing are addressed first. These are fundamental building blocks. However, one unifying factor that is often overlooked is clarity of sound.

To me, this is universal.

Great singers across all genres tend to maintain a consistent and balanced vocal setup as they move through different vowels, pitches, and dynamics. Of course, styles may call for embellishments, vibrato, stylistic breathiness, speech-like qualities, or other colours that help shape artistic nuance. But underneath those stylistic choices, there are often shared vocal truths that remain constant.

I believe it is crucial to help singers discover those universal principles.

Not only does this create greater versatility, but it also helps avoid confusion surrounding vocal identity. Without a strong technical base, singers can easily begin compensating with unhealthy habits, poor breath support, excessive laryngeal tension, overly manipulated vowels, or forcing certain sounds to imitate a style. These issues can plague many developing singers.

By understanding the core function of the voice first, singers gain a clearer understanding of their own instrument, how it naturally works, how to use it efficiently, and how to adapt it authentically across different musical styles.

In my experience, true vocal freedom does not come from abandoning technique in pursuit of style. Rather, it comes from building such a reliable foundation that style becomes an artistic choice, not a technical compromise.