Tuesday Practice Tip: How to Learn a Song, Part 3 – Vocalize the Melody with Vowels

Now that you know the text and the rhythm, it's time to learn the melody. This is where you really focus on vocal technique and start getting the notes into your body.

By singing on vowels — just like you do in your daily vocal exercises — you build vocal strength, muscle memory, and resonance.

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1. Begin with [u] ("oo")

Sing the entire melody on a pure [u] vowel. This gives you a focused pitch center and lets you learn the notes without being distracted by words. At the same time, you’re training consistent airflow and connection.

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2. Then sing the melody on the other four vowels, one vowel at a time

Try [i], [e], [a], [o] — sing through the entire song on each vowel individually. It’s time-consuming, but this is how you get your body to truly connect each vowel.

If you run into a tricky phrase or interval, stop. Go back. Repeat it until it feels right. Check in with your body:

· Is your posture aligned?

· Are you using your abdominal muscles to support your breath?

· Is the vowel deep and well-shaped?

This is where you refine the habits that create beautiful singing. You’re also developing your legato line — the smooth, connected flow from note to note. You may also hear this described as having “line in the voice.” It’s a hallmark of bel canto singing.

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3. Then sing the song using just the vowels of each word

This part takes brain power! Go through the lyrics and sing them without the consonants. For example, “How are you?” becomes “ah ah ooo” (or in IPA: [a] [a] [u]).

Make sure you’re sustaining breath and tone from vowel to vowel without disconnection. Just like before, pause and repeat any spots that feel unstable. You’re still building legato, but now you’re adding the real architecture of the words.

This kind of work takes time. Don’t rush it. Repeating phrases over and over — even when it feels tedious — is exactly how mastery is built. The goal isn’t perfection on the first try, but progress that sticks in your voice. Remember, we’re looking for muscle memory — and repetition is how we build that.

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This step is all about vocal structure — shaping the song in your voice before bringing back the full lyrics.

Next week, in the final part of our How to Learn a Song series, we’ll put everything together.

What part of learning a new song feels hardest for you — the text, the rhythm, the melody, or putting it all together?