Christ for the Nations Institute (CFNI) - Learn to Sing with Intimacy Like the Pros

CFNI has impacted Christian music by producing an intimate worship experience that leads people into the presence of God. There are many reasons why CFNI has established itself as a go-to Christian worship destination, but one thing is clear: the emphasis is on the word "Christ."

Breathing Techniques

Before you start learning to sing like CFNI, it’s important to understand proper breathing techniques. Breathing correctly is vital to singing. It's the foundation of your sound! A helpful resource to start with is Singing Carrots’ Breathing basics article. CFNI songs will require you to master fast inhales as well as slow and controlled exhales. You can also practice breathing as a warm-up with Farinelli Breathing exercise.

Vocal Range

CFNI plays a variety of music, so having a good vocal range is essential. To assess your vocal range, use Singing Carrots’ Vocal range test. It's important to note that CFNI songs are often performed in a higher register, so it's important to develop your higher range.

Vocal Registers and Voice Break

CFNI music will help you develop your high register, which requires awareness of your vocal registers. CFNI’s signature sound has a “break” when transitioning between registers. Understanding and controlling your break point will help you master CFNI's sound. You can practice finding your break point with Voice Break or Mixed Voice exercises.

Passion

CFNI’s music is passionate, so being able to convey emotion is critical. Sing with the appropriate emotions while enunciating the words properly. CFNI's signature sound is not limited by hits, but they have many favorites such as "You Are Holy" and "Forever Reign," by which you can immerse yourself in the feeling of the music.

Articulation

Articulation means properly enunciating each word without having an accent that distracts from it. A helpful exercise for articulation is Finger Bite. CFNI music does not have lyrics that are hard to understand, but enunciating words clearly while singing will enhance the impact of the lyrics.

Vibrato and Twang

Incorporating variations in your tones such as vibrato and twang and vocal distortion will help improve your singing. For vibrato, check out this video of Beggars Bounce and Diaphragm Bounce. Try performing vocal distortion with Vocal Distortion and Growling.

Song Choice

Choosing appropriate songs will better enable you to learn how to sing like CFNI. Singing Carrots' Search songs by vocal range resource can help you find songs that match your vocal range, difficulty, and genre preferences. CFNI has hundreds of songs you can train from like “Oh Lord Come” or “You Deserve the Glory.”

CFNI is an expert in worship music. Singers must put passion, focus, knowledge, and devotion to vocal practice before they can start expressing themselves in worship. By following these steps, you can learn to sing like CFNI and enter that intimate experience with God through music.