How to Navigate and Best Learn from Mistakes in Singing

By Margaret Lampasi

It can be frustrating to make mistakes in singing—whether it’s during your own practice time, in a voice lesson, or even in a performance in front of others.

But guess what? Mistakes can be your allies, gently pointing out areas where you can shift or improve for the better. Yes, you heard that right.

Here’s something important to know: navigating mistakes as a singer can be especially tricky.

Why?

Because YOU—your whole being, your mind, body, voice, heart, and soul—are the instrument. The vocal instrument is the most complex one out there, with so much to coordinate that it can feel challenging to get it to do what you want. But hey, at least it’s not as hard as herding cats! 😉

No matter what level you’re at, mistakes in singing need to be handled with kindness and mindfulness. Only a positive and compassionate approach can turn those mistakes into something valuable and help you grow as a singer.

Think of mistakes as stepping stones to strengthening ALL your singing muscles—physical, mental, emotional, vocal, and more. If handled the right way, mistakes can become BIG opportunities for growth.

The Inner Critic and Common Reactions to Mistakes

Does this sound familiar?

  • You impatiently brush a mistake aside, thinking, “What’s my problem?!”
  • You dive into correction immediately, tense and reactive, rather than with a thoughtful plan.
  • You replay a broken record of self-criticism:
    • “Something always goes wrong when I sing! Why do I even bother?”
    • “I’m done with singing—it’s hopeless!”
    • “My voice is so inconsistent; it drives me crazy!”

These are the telltale words of the Inner Critic—a pesky voice that focuses only on the negative while ignoring the good and positive qualities of your efforts. It’s a sneaky form of self-sabotage.

If this resonates with you, don’t worry. I’m here to help. First, let’s dispel any negative thoughts about your singing:

There’s Already Good in Your Singing

I assure you, your singing already has positive qualities, and your efforts are working for you in many ways!

Like any skill, singing can always improve, but that doesn’t mean your mistakes should throw your confidence in the dumps–definitely not! Singing, as noted earlier, involves ALL of you, and your mind is a big part of that. Training both your mind and body is essential for singing well.

Singing is as mental as it is physical. Below, I’ll share strategies to keep your Inner Critic at bay and turn mistakes into learning opportunities that support your growth.

In Practice or Voice Lessons: Strategies to Make the Most of Mistakes

Here’s what I do in my own practice and recommend to my students during their voice lessons:

    1. Recover and Regroup

The first step is to pause for several moments to “recover” and “regroup” both mentally and physically. Give yourself time and space to recover. 

  • Recover Mentally: Let go of the mistake completely. This might mean exhaling, letting out any stuck air in a short, sigh gesture, then inhaling slowly and mindfully. Remind yourself, “No biggie—mistakes happen to everyone!”
  • Regroup Physically: Get grounded and centered in your body and breath. Try this:
    • Feel your feet firmly on the floor.
    • Sense your breath returning low in your body—take a few slow breaths, focusing on the flow of breath energy centered in your lower abdomen. You may notice your upper body relaxing as a result.

(Note: Stress reactions often move breath high into the chest or even stop it altogether, which isn’t helpful for singers!)

These small actions can wipe the slate clean for your body and mind. Don’t underestimate their power.

    2. Reorient Your Mind to the Task

Once you’ve recovered and regrouped, reorient your mind to the singing task:

  • Insert a kind, compassionate message like, “I can do this.”
  • Mentally rehearse the musical phrase or task in your imagination a few times in detail. That means:
    • Visualize yourself singing the phrase with good vocal technique. (That includes focus on your low breathing, your mouth opening, how you begin and keep the phrase going until the end.) 
    • Keep each moment of this imagined experience in your felt sense/awareness/mind’s eye/mind’s ear!
    • Imagine singing with ease, balance, and flow. Continue paying attention to how it feels in your body as you clearly and intentionally mentally rehearse.

Then, return to the task with a refreshed sense of focus and calm.

    3. Reimagine the Phrase with Ease

Before singing again, visualize yourself achieving the desired result effortlessly. You can even physically pantomime it, feeling “as if”  you’re actually singing (minus the sound)! Sense how it feels in your body to sing with the right amount of effort—no more, no less. Hear in your mind’s ear how great and free it sounds to you! 

By grounding yourself, preparing your mind, and visualizing success, you’ll recover your flow—an essential element of great singing. Most of the time, you’ll find this process works wonders.

When Time is Limited or Mid-Performance

Sometimes, you’re in the middle of a performance or practice session with limited time. Here’s a quick all-in-one solution:

  • Feel your feet firmly rooted to the ground.
  • Take a deep, low breath as if breathing into your feet.
  • Internally reassure yourself: “I can do this wonderfully.”
  • Continue singing, staying grounded and focused.

For beginners, it’s often best to simply keep going without stopping mid-performance—especially in karaoke or talent shows, which are meant to be fun, and not high-stakes. Give yourself grace, move on, and return to the music’s flow as soon as possible.

For Professional Singers

Professionals are often taught to never draw attention to a mistake during a performance. The audience likely won’t notice unless you highlight it!

That said, there are rare cases where stopping and restarting may be appropriate—for example, if you and your accompanist are in two different keys or following completely different scores. In such cases, stopping is in order.

However, stopping mid-song can disrupt your expressive flow, jar the audience’s experience, and activate your Inner Critic, so it’s best to avoid it unless absolutely necessary.

Embracing Mistakes as Part of the Whole

In Japan, there’s a concept called kintsugi, the art of mending broken ceramics with gold. The cracks become part of the item’s beauty, telling a more real and complete story of its existence.

Mistakes in singing can be viewed the same way. They’re part of the whole, contributing to your growth and artistry.

For me, performing is like being in an exciting flame of energy, shared with the other musicians around me. The joy of it comes from knowing that my mind and body are fully prepared to channel that energy into great music-making. Then mistakes, when handled mindfully, don’t extinguish the flame—but only add variation and human depth.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re practicing alone, working with a teacher, or performing for an audience, mistakes are inevitable. But they don’t have to hold you back.

By pausing, regrouping, and reorienting, you can transform mistakes into opportunities for growth. Remember: your voice is a complex and ever-evolving instrument. With mindfulness and compassion, you can navigate the ups and downs of singing with grace, turning each misstep into a stepping stone toward mastering your voice.

So, the next time you make a mistake, don’t let your Inner Critic or Judge take over. Instead, thank your mistake for showing you where you can grow, and keep moving forward with courage, creativity, and joy.

Happy singing! 🎵