WHY IS VOCAL TECHNIQUE IMPORTANT? A student’s thoughts on what vocal technique is and how to apply it. The voice is our tool of communication in everyday life. It is used to give instructions, express intentions, and convey the emotions that define us. The voice is also a form of identity and a characteristic unique to each individual. However, it is not only speech that has the ability to move people and communicate intentions between them, but also singing.  What is vocal technique, and why is it so important for us opera singers to have a good vocal technique? One tendency I have noticed more and more throughout my education as an opera singer is that young singers often struggle to put into words what they are actually doing when they sing. Of course, I do not expect someone to know all the old academic terms for the different functions used during a vocal warm-up. Nor do I expect this from all the many different vocal teachers out there. However, it can be helpful to be able to describe what it is you are actually doing and why you are doing it in order to achieve a specific goal. In this essay i will explore the concepts of breathing, support/appoggio, squillo, covering, nasality, and vocal warm-ups. With the help of Hints On Singin By Manuel Garcia and with interviews of established vocal teachers such as Erik Årman, Fredrik Zetterström, Emma Lyrén Fernandez.