Play a note on a tuned piano or keyboard in a comfortable spot in your range. Sing the pitch using "la" or "loo" at full volume. It helps to envision yourself in a large auditorium, sending the sound out to the furthest rows of the audience. As you sing this way, support the tone with strong air flow from the diaphragm and an open throat and mouth.
Sing the same pitch, this time with less of a push from the diaphragm and less tone. Maintain the same steady air flow, open throat and mouth. Envision yourself singing more relaxed and softly to the audience members closest to you, as though you are in a more intimate setting. Producing a nice tone at this volume still requires good air support and a full, rich tone. Volume should only change how loud the sound is, not the quality of the sound.
Repeat the first two steps on different notes in your range, shifting from loud volume to soft volume at least 10 times. Continue to adjust the amount of diaphragm push and tone produced between the louder volume and softer volume until you are able to sing a nice, quality tone at both. Make only slight changes to air flow and throat and mouth openness.
Sing at a low volume through a favorite song that is in your best singing range. Maintain good breath support so that your tone still has a rich -- not airy -- sound. Again envision yourself singing to an audience that is physically close to you and can hear you well without you singing out loudly.
Record yourself singing this way several times once you are more comfortable singing at a lower volume.
Play back your recordings to hear what your tone sounds like from a different perspective. Award-winning lyricist and playwright Randy Moomaw says it's important to be critical of your own sound when learning new technique. Hearing a recording of your voice helps your identify weaknesses and areas of growth.
Critique your recordings. If the vocal tone contains too much air, repeat the steps in section one focusing on less air coming through the throat and mouth. If the tone is unsteady, repeat section one focusing on better breath support from the diaphragm to keep a steady tone. If the tone sounds closed off or too throaty, practice with the piano or keyboard again and focus on a more open throat and mouth.