Vocals is the art of producing musical sounds with the voice and augments regular speech by the use of sustained tonality, rhythm, and a variety of vocal techniques. A person who sings is called a singer or vocalist (in jazz and popular music). Vocalists perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or without accompaniment by musical instruments. Vocalizing is often done in an ensemble of musicians, such as a choir of vocalists or a band of instrumentalists. Vocalists may perform as soloists or accompanied by anything from a single instrument (as in art song or some jazz styles) up to a symphony orchestra or big band. Different vocal styles include art music such as opera and Chinese opera, Indian music and religious music styles such as gospel, traditional music styles, world music, jazz, blues, gazal and popular music styles such as pop, rock, electronic dance music and filmi (film songs).
Vocals can be formal or informal, arranged or improvised. It may be done as a form of religious devotion, as a hobby, as a source of pleasure, comfort or ritual, as part of music education or as a profession. Excellence in vocals requires time, dedication, instruction and regular practice. If practice is done on a regular basis then the sounds can become more clear and strong. Professional vocalists usually build their careers around one specific musical genre, such as classical or rock, although there are vocalists with crossover success (singing in more than one genre). They usually take vocal training provided by vocal teachers or vocal coaches throughout their careers.