By providing students with proper vocal techniques as an initial basis through warm ups, vocalists will learn to sing without damaging their voices and will progress through literature without straining their vocal chords. If they apply these techniques, it will make singing difficult literature more feasible. These elements include posture, breathing, phonation, tone production, and diction. For the focus of this thesis, I have chosen two specific elements. They include posture and breathing. Through my research I have found that the most important element of proper vocal techniques is breathing. Without correct posture one cannot breathe properly. Good posture and accurate breathing influence the elements of phonation, tone production, and diction.
It is highly important to know how to teach vocal techniques as a warm up, and how to apply the use of correct vocal techniques within the rehearsal. Addressing the importance of vocal techniques in the warm ups is not enough for the students because they often do not know how to apply them to the literature. In addition, the teacher must also provide guidance pertaining directly to the literature throughout rehearsal.
A great deal of literature has been published by vocal music educators regarding recommended methods to teach vocal techniques. Some educators know many methods for teaching vocal techniques but have not applied them in teaching. It is important that educators not only read about the established methods but learn how to use them in the classroom as well.