3:Singing Without the Song: Vowel Power

We introduce the idea of starting with sound, not songs. Explaining how vowel sounds help beginners feel their voice without performance pressure.

Some of my earliest memories involve the sound of voices — not just solo performances or formal music-making, but the kind of everyday singing that happens when people feel relaxed, connected, and unselfconscious.

When I was very small, - about 4 years old - the film "the Sound of Music" was released. My mum was a huge fan of musicals and, when it came to the cinema in Truro, she took my sister and I to see it several times (she probably couldn't get a babysitter - but I remember us loving it as much as she did!) She also bought the LP of the soundtrack and played it endlessly on our little gramophone. We all sang along and would get carried away. I would make up the words I didn't know (I still do that!) or hum along with the tunes, just to be a part of it.

In my childhood, it was completely normal for people to sing - in the kitchen, in the car. No one expected performances, nobody was particularly listening - just doing.

We sang because it was fun, because it was playful and because it was part of how we expressed ourselves. Not necessarily a song with words and structure, often just vocal "doodles"

When I work with adult beginners now, I often guide them to return to that same simplicity, that non-structured vocalising where you can't do it "wrong" and that’s why we begin with vowels.

Why Vowels?

Vowel sounds are open, natural, and deeply connected to the breath. Think of sounds like 'ah', 'oo', or 'ee'.

They don’t require you to remember lyrics or hold a melody. You don’t need to hit a perfect pitch. You’re simply letting sound emerge and recognising its origin..

Starting with vowels helps to:
- Release tension in the voice and body
- Connect breath to sound gently
- Build vocal confidence without performance pressure

It’s where we begin not because it’s basic, but because it’s healthy.

Why It Feels Safer

For many adults, singing feels like a test. Will I sound alright? Will I be judged? Will I fail?

But vowel-based vocal play removes that sense of judgement. It’s not about singing a song for others — it’s about reconnecting with your own voice for yourself.

This is exactly how I reintroduce singing in my *Permission to Sing* course. It’s gentle, calming, and gives people space to rediscover their voice in a way that feels emotionally safe.

Returning to the Roots of Singing

In times past, singing was a communal, everyday activity, not something reserved for professionals. My grandfather’s choirs, the impromptu harmonies at village events and the shared songs of my childhood remind me of that truth.

By starting simply, with a breath, a hum, a vowel, we honour that tradition. We step away from judgement and back into joy.

Start with a Breath

If singing feels daunting, you don’t need to leap into full songs. You can begin right now, wherever you are, with a breath and a sound.

*Permission to Sing* offers simple, reassuring practices, including vowel play, to help you reconnect with your voice safely and gently.

You’re not here to prove anything. You’re here to return to something that was always yours.

[Permission To Sing - mini course]

Categories: : BEGINNERS, PERMISSION TO SING