Listen Like A Singer

Why It Matters

Most singers listen to music for enjoyment—but not with the ears of a vocalist. This skill lab helps shift that habit. By listening to five different singers perform the same song, you’ll train yourself to hear vocal technique, stylistic decisions, and emotional intent with greater clarity. The goal isn’t to decide who’s “best,” but to notice how each singer makes choices and what those choices do to you as a listener. Over time, this kind of focused listening sharpens your interpretive instincts, expands your vocabulary for describing singing, and helps you make more intentional decisions in your own performances. It also builds aesthetic self-awareness—something most singers never explicitly train. Taste is a skill. This week, you’re going to practice it.

Suggested Daily Practice Plan

Time per day: 5–10 minutes
Tools needed: Internet access (YouTube/Spotify/etc.), notebook or notes app

Practice Plan:

Day 1: Setup + Listen #1

  • Pick your song. Choose a version you already know or are curious about.

  • Find 4 more versions by different singers to queue up for the rest of the week.

  • Listen to Version 1 (just one performance).

  • Answer the reflection questions (use Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced set).

  • Optional: Write 1–2 takeaway points.

 

Day 2: Listen #2

  • Listen to Version 2.

  • Use the same reflection format as Day 1.

  • Compare briefly with Version 1: anything new you noticed?

 

Day 3: Listen #3

  • Listen to Version 3.

  • Reflect using the same structure.

  • Optional: Rank the three versions so far—why is your top pick leading?

 

Day 4: Listen #4

  • Listen to Version 4.

  • Reflect + compare with prior performances.

  • Make note of any consistent choices across multiple singers.

 

Day 5: Listen #5

  • Listen to Version 5.

  • Final round of reflection for individual performances.

  • Note which singers took similar or contrasting approaches—and which stood out.

 

Day 6: Synthesis

  • Review all your notes.

  • Answer the End-of-Week Prompts:

    • Favorite version and why?

    • Most technically impressive?

    • Most emotionally effective?

    • What will you carry into your own singing?

     

Day 7: Optional Application

  • If you sing the song: Try one idea you liked from the week.

  • If not: Identify a vocal goal inspired by what you heard—e.g., cleaner onset, more fluid phrasing, bolder dynamic shifts.

Reflection Questions

Reflection Questions (Day 1–5)

  1. Use these if you’re early in your vocal journey or new to listening critically.
  2. Did the singer sound smooth or choppy?
  3. Was it loud or soft most of the time?
  4. Could you understand the words?
  5. Did anything surprise you?
  6. How did it make you feel?

End of Week Prompts (Day 6)

After all 5 versions, reflect:

  1. Which version was your favorite, and why? (Don’t just say “it sounded good.” Get specific.)

  2. Whose technical approach impressed you most?

  3. Whose style felt most emotionally connected or original?

  4. What patterns did you notice across singers (e.g., breathiness in quiet parts, scoops on key lines)?

  5. What’s one new idea you might experiment with in your own singing?

🎓 This is a Free Preview from VoSci Academy

You’re reading a full, ungated Skill Lab post—part of a growing weekly series designed to help singers build practical, science-backed skills in just a few minutes a day.

When VoSci Academy launches, members will get even more, including:

✅ Weekly extended exercises and technique walkthroughs
✅ Beginner modifications and troubleshooting tips
✅ Full vocal training modules with guided learning paths
✅ A supportive learning community + monthly live calls

💡 For now, enjoy this open preview—and if you want early access to everything VoSci Academy has to offer, including Founding Member pricing, join the waitlist here.

VoSci Academy Exclusive Content

If you’ve been training for a while, you may find it helpful to go deeper than the core questions. The following prompts are designed to challenge your perception, vocabulary, and technical ear.

You can use either set—or mix and match—as optional add-ons to the daily practice. These questions are especially useful for singers with prior training, vocal teachers, or those preparing to perform or teach the song themselves.

Intermediate Questions

Use these if you’re already training your voice and know some terms.

  1. What register(s) did the singer use (chest, head, mix)?

  2. How did they shape phrases—was the rhythm flexible or strict?

  3. Were there any vocal effects (vibrato, distortion, flips, scoops)?

  4. Did the vocal choices support the emotion or text?

  5. What technique did you admire, and why?

 

Advanced Questions

Use these if you’ve been singing for years or studying pedagogy.

  1. What kind of onset/offset patterns were used? (e.g., aspirate, glottal, balanced)

  2. How did vowel modification or resonance tuning affect tone across registers?

  3. What breath strategy seemed to underlie phrase shaping?

  4. How did genre conventions shape stylistic choices? Were they bent or followed?

  5. Would these choices be sustainable for repeated performance?