Make Singing Your New Year's Resolution (and Stick With It)

The short answer: To make singing a New Year's resolution you actually keep, make it small and specific. Swap "get better at singing" for a five-minute daily warmup, one song you want to sing well, and a weekly or every-other-week lesson that keeps you accountable. Adults who stick with singing don't rely on motivation. They build a tiny habit, get feedback early, and measure progress in how singing feels, not just how it sounds.

I'm Ashten, a classically trained soprano with a Master of Music, a full-time vocal coach, and the founder of Sing With Ashten. Every January, I hear from adults who have wanted to sing "for years" and finally decided this is the year. The ones who are still singing in March almost always did the same few things. Here's what they are.

Last updated: November 2026

Start today: Grab my free 5-minute vocal warmup and you'll have your daily habit before January even starts.

Why singing resolutions usually fade by February

Most singing resolutions fail for the same reasons most resolutions do: the goal is vague, the plan is too big, and there's no feedback loop. "I want to sing better" doesn't tell you what to do on a Tuesday night. Practicing for an hour feels impossible after work. And without someone listening, it's hard to know whether you're improving, so frustration wins.

There's also a belief problem. Many adults secretly think singing is a talent you're born with. If the first few weeks don't sound amazing, it feels like proof. But singing is a skill. It's coordination between your breath and the muscles of your voice, and coordination improves with the right kind of practice, at any age.

Step 1: Pick a goal you can actually picture

Good singing goals are specific and personal. Instead of "be a good singer," try one of these:

• Sing one favorite song all the way through without straining
• Feel confident singing in church, choir or a worship team
• Get through a karaoke night without your voice shaking
• Hit the high notes in a song that currently makes you crack
• Sing for friends or family by the end of the year

Write down the song or situation. A clear picture keeps you practicing when motivation dips.

Step 2: Build a five-minute daily habit

Five minutes a day beats one long session a week, because your voice learns through repetition. My warmup is intentionally simple: slides on a lip trill and slides on a "v." Both are semi-occluded vocal tract exercises that get your muscles and air working as one, and they're gentle enough to do every single day.

• Attach it to something you already do: your morning coffee, your commute or your shower.
• Keep it easy: a warmup should leave your voice feeling better, not tired.
• Track it: a simple checkmark on a calendar is surprisingly motivating.

For the full routine, read The Complete Guide to a 5-Minute Vocal Warmup.

Step 3: Get feedback early

Practicing alone can quietly reinforce the habits that hold you back, like pushing for high notes or squeezing your throat when you're nervous. A teacher catches those patterns in minutes and tells you exactly what to change. That early feedback is what turns a resolution into real progress, and it's the biggest difference between adults who improve and adults who give up.

If you're comparing options, see Private Singing Lessons vs Vocal Training Apps and How to Choose an Online Voice Teacher as an Adult.

Step 4: Pick a lesson rhythm that fits your life

You don't need to overhaul your schedule. Most of my adult students choose one of two rhythms:

• Weekly lessons: the fastest progress and the strongest accountability.
• Every other week: a great fit if you travel, work shifts or have a busy family calendar.

Either way, your daily five minutes carries you between lessons.

Step 5: Measure progress the right way

Don't judge your progress only by recordings in the first few weeks. Look for these signs instead:

• Your throat feels less tight when you sing
• You can sing longer before your voice gets tired
• High notes feel less pushed, even if they're not perfect yet
• You're less nervous singing in front of someone

Those changes come first. The sound follows. For more, read Signs Your 5-Minute Vocal Warmup Is Working.

A simple plan for your first month

1. Week 1: Do the five-minute warmup daily and choose your goal song.
2. Week 2: Start lessons or book your first session, and sing your song once a day after warming up.
3. Week 3: Focus on the one fix your teacher gives you. Just one.
4. Week 4: Record yourself singing your song and compare it to day one.

How lessons with Sing With Ashten work

• Who it's for: Adult beginners, hobbyists, choir and worship singers, and anyone who's been told they "can't sing"
• Format: Private one-on-one lessons on Zoom, from your own space
• Lesson length: 30 or 45 minutes, weekly or every other week
• Pricing: Monthly plans starting at $120/month (see what voice lessons typically cost)
• Approach: Science-backed technique focused on building access, autonomy and artistry, with zero shame
• New year timing: The studio takes a winter break, and new students start in late January. Join the waitlist now to save your spot.

Frequently asked questions

Is it too late to learn to sing as an adult?

No. Singing is a coordination skill, and adults improve at it all the time. Many of my students start in their 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond.

How much should I practice to see progress?

Five to ten minutes on most days is enough to build real coordination, especially when it's paired with regular feedback from a teacher.

What if I don't know what kind of singer I am yet?

That's completely fine. Start with a song you love. Your voice type and style become clearer as you train.

Should I wait until I'm "better" to take lessons?

No. Lessons are most useful at the beginning, before habits like pushing or straining become automatic.

Start your singing year now

Get my free 5-minute vocal warmup to start your daily habit today, and join the waitlist to save your spot for lessons starting in late January.

About the author: Ashten Smith is a classically trained soprano with a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, a full-time vocal coach, and the founder of Sing With Ashten. She teaches singers online using science-backed methods, plenty of support and zero shame.