When people ask what makes a great singer, they often expect to hear about range, tone, or even breathing technique. And yes — all of those things matter. At Symons Studio, we care deeply about solid vocal technique. It’s the foundation. It keeps your voice healthy, unlocks your potential, and gives you freedom across styles.
But here’s the truth: technique is a means, not an end.
The real goal? Expression. Connection. Joy.
That’s easy to forget in the practice room. When you’re learning to sing, it’s natural to focus on “doing it right.” Keeping the larynx stable. Breathing from the diaphragm. Managing airflow. All important things. But the best performances — the ones that move us — aren’t always technically perfect. They’re authentic. They’re courageous. They tell a story.
At Symons Studio, we often say: teach the student before the subject. And part of that means remembering that good singing isn’t just about nailing the technique — it’s about using it to say something.
Great technique should feel like a helpful guide, not a cage. When your breath is grounded, when your posture is aligned, when your resonance is balanced, the voice becomes more responsive. You gain choices. You can shape a phrase differently, open up the tone, lean into a word. It’s those choices that make the difference between singing the notes and sharing the music.
One of my favourite things to teach is appoggio — the old Italian concept of breath support that gives singers stamina and flexibility. But I always remind students: we’re not doing this just to “support the sound.” We’re doing it so you can phrase beautifully. So you can float that pianissimo line with intention. So your breath lasts not just to the end of the bar, but to the end of the thought.
In one of my favourite singing books, A Modern Guide to Old World Singing, David Jones talks about “building the instrument” — but only ever in service of artistry.
Technique should serve the message — not silence it.
If we spend all our time chasing perfection, we miss the point. Music is human. It’s messy and beautiful and alive. And no one ever cried because a singer hit every vowel with textbook placement. They cried because the singer meant it.
That’s the kind of singing we believe in.
At Symons Studio, we teach you how to build that technique step-by-step — with clarity, kindness, and structure. But more importantly, we help you use it to say something. To sing with confidence, creativity, and freedom.
Your voice. Your journey. Your joy.