What makes a great singer beyond technique?

Question

Beyond vocal technique, what qualities or attributes do you believe make a great singer? How important are elements like emotional expression, stage presence, communication with the audience, and personal interpretation in your teaching philosophy? Can you share how you help students develop these artistic and performance aspects alongside technical skills?

Answer 1

Being a great singer is so much more than just hitting the right notes or mastering technique—though technique is the foundation. What truly sets a singer apart is their ability to connect, communicate, and move people through music. Here’s what I focus on with my students beyond technical skills:

1. Emotional expression: A singer’s voice is a storytelling tool. I encourage students to feel every phrase they sing, to understand the lyrics deeply, and to let their emotions shape the sound naturally. This is what makes a performance resonate with an audience.
2. Stage presence: Confidence and comfort on stage are essential. I teach students to engage their body language, eye contact, and energy, so the audience feels invited into the music rather than just listening passively.
3. Communication and interpretation: Every singer has a unique voice and perspective. I guide students to develop their personal interpretation of songs—deciding how to shape phrases, use dynamics, and emphasize storytelling—so their performance feels authentic.
4. Connection with the audience: Singing is a shared experience. I help students practice projecting their energy outward while staying in touch with the subtle nuances of their own performance, which helps the audience connect emotionally.

In my teaching, technical exercises are always paired with expressive practice. For example, we might work on breath control while simultaneously shaping a phrase to convey joy, sadness, or tension. Or we’ll explore phrasing choices, vibrato, and dynamics in the context of real songs, so technical mastery and artistry grow together.

Ultimately, a great singer is technically skilled, emotionally connected, and fearless in sharing their story. My goal as a teacher is to help students find that balance so they can sing with both power and soul.

Answer 2

A strong emotional connection to the music makes for a very compelling performance! If you (the singer) are moved, the audience will be moved, too.

Answer 3

Honesty. Audiences respond to truth. Technique is the foundation, but emotional connection and intention make the performance memorable. The goal is not perfection—it’s communication from the heart.