It has always fascinated me why singers have a reputation for not being very rhythmic. In my experience, most singers do indeed have a normal sense of rhythm, but singing rhythmically can still be a challenge. Common problems include, for example, entering a phrase too late or out of sync, and holding notes too long. One of the main causes of unrhythmic singing is that many singers focus primarily on the melody and lyrics to convey emotion, especially when singing at a slow or moderate tempo. They also often lose the rhythm because they get carried away by the sound of their own voice.
But rhythmic singing also has a physical component. If your entry is on the first beat, you must have inhaled before that first beat in order for the onset to be on time. If you inhale on the first beat, your onset will always be too late. Inhaling in time for an onset is a habit that many singers must consciously practice. In addition, once you’ve started your note, it takes less physical effort to sustain that note than to finish it. This is especially true at the end of a longer phrase and has everything to do with breath management. This creates a chain of events because if you end the phrase too late, you’ll also have less time to take your next breath. As a result, you’ll start the next phrase too late. The faster the tempo of the piece, the more this problem arises.
If you want to improve the rhythm—or timing—of your singing, it helps a lot to work on pronouncing consonants clearly and on time. Not just at the beginning of each word or syllable, but especially at the end. If you then also pay attention to the correct length of the word, you’ll notice a difference right away—just give it a try. More on rhythm next time!
© 2026 Ineke Vandoorn
ZING Magazine nr 130- aug/sept 2026