Are you curious about how to improve your singing? Kelvin Ho, a vocal coach, shares his advice.
Becoming a singer requires not only practice but also a discerning ear and a willingness to constantly improve yourself. Even if you are not destined to be a superstar, you can master your instrument enough to enjoy singing – and bring joy to others.
“Everyone can sing,” said Ho, who has over 3,900 followers on his Instagram account @hkfmusic.
High notes
For many students, high notes present one of the steepest challenges. Ho said that you should first be able to hit the correct notes consistently and clearly before you try to sing them with more volume and strength.
The vocal coach pointed out that many people might confuse the head voice and falsetto, especially for Cantonese-speaking students who use the same term (假音) for both registers. Yet the two are distinct.
Head voice is a much richer and more powerful sound. It is produced by a fuller closure of your vocal cords, so it requires a lot of control and practice. Ho pointed to Celine Dion as a great example of how to use this technique to sustain high notes with clarity and warmth.
Falsetto, by contrast, is much more airy and light. It requires less vocal cord closure. For example, Hong Kong singer Moon Tang uses falsetto to create a fragile sound.
If you slide from your speaking range to head voice without control, the sound may crack and become falsetto.
Ho pointed to “Golden” by Huntrix as a catchy but demanding workout for singing high notes. Beginners should make sure to have the proper foundation before trying to belt out the high notes and dramatic runs of this song.
“Singing is progressive. Get the pitch first before trying to engage in more powerful stuff,” Ho said.
He encouraged students to listen to and learn from established singers: Hins Cheung, known for his tenor range; Eason Chan, admired for his ability to switch tones; G.E.M., who has powerhouse vocals; and Ariana Grande, who has fluid falsettos. Through exploration, students can explore different tonal qualities before finding what works for them.
One step at a time
Drawing from years of teaching experience, Ho emphasised that improvement would come gradually. He warned against following all the advice on the internet. Without proper coaching, Ho said, beginners might follow unsafe techniques, leading to frustration or injury.
Beginners, he added, often overestimated how quickly they could emulate their idols, only to face frustration when their results might not match their expectations.
“I used to think I knew everything,” he confessed, adding that self-awareness was his greatest teacher.
According to Ho, assessing yourself is the first step to improvement. Recording your voice and comparing it with professional tracks can help you pinpoint problems. Innovative apps can also monitor your breath and pitch in real time to help you fine-tune your singing.
Stage fright
Stage fright is a challenge even for seasoned performers. Ho suggested starting small by singing for family at home and building confidence before stepping onto a stage.
He also noted that managing stage anxiety was not about eliminating fear altogether but learning to channel it into your singing.
The vocal coach also urged students to enter as many contests and performances as possible for the sake of gaining more experience.
“I used to participate in those competitions. [It] didn’t work for the first time [and] didn’t work for the second time, but for the third time, I won the first runner-up. Perseverance is important,” Ho said.
Busking
Ho described busking as a way for budding singers to challenge themselves. Performing in public removes the comfort of being in controlled settings, exposing singers to unpredictable acoustics, fluctuating audience sizes and unfiltered reactions.
For beginners, he advised starting in quieter locations.
As your skills mature, you can step into more competitive areas with seasoned buskers whose sharp ears can detect even minor flaws. Ho noted that this scrutiny, while intimidating, could accelerate growth by forcing you to refine your technique and stage presence.
“Improve and prove that you can do it – [that] you can sing on pitch, and you can sing professionally,” Ho said.
In his view, success in these high-pressure environments is not simply about applause but also about maintaining composure, delivering consistently and converting even the toughest criticism into fuel for improvement.
