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50 Great Singing Tips

Plan ahead Sore throat? Try an apple or pear (or their juices) Don't do anything that will hurt your voice in any way When looking for a teacher, ask about his/her backgroud in music, and whether they are willing to help you learn how to sing something other than their style of singing Just because a singer sounds nice doesn't mean s/he can sing When you are learning to sing, you are doing it to find out what your voice is capable of, not someone else's; be happy with what you have To those who want to sing pop music: There is nothing wrong with learning classical To those who wish to sing classical: There is nothing wrong with learning popular You are not the person on the radio-don't try to imitate them unless you are trying to learn something Don't inhale any kind of smoke at any time whatsoever Don't drink Don't do drugs Don't allow people to come at your vocal cords with sharp instruments. In other words: Don't allow doctors to perform surgery on your vocal cords, as there is a possibility you may never sing again after this. The only way to not have vocal problems is to not do harm to your voice in the first place, a skill which isn't taught due to lack of information. No more yelling You can forget ice-cold drinks unless you have some sort of trauma to the throat area, i.e. tonsils removed, that sort fo thing. Reason: It tightens up your vocal cords. They must be warm and loose in order for you to sing properly. Don't talk too much Reason: It wears down your vocal cords. Try to stay away from a lot of dust Try to cough a little quieter Don't sing in groups, choirs,etc. Reason: Blending with other people can throw off your ear. Choruses don't usually stay in key. Don't sing any song out of you range No more than 3 performances per week Don't use vibrato Don't dance and sing at the same time Don't sing your loudest for extended periods of time Ask as many questions of as many people as you can about singing Don't go to a vocal coach who is only a vocal coach because he hurt his voice and coud not fix it, unless he is willing to explain to you how he hurt his voice, and how you can avoid the same fate Reason: What they teach you will eventually hurt your voice in the same way it hurt theirs Keep away from air conditioning for at least two hours before a performance Get to know and understand the organs involved in singing Singing will help to cure a sore throat that is not the result of oversinging or overtalking Practice as slowly and softly as possible Learn every style of singing you can Dairy products cause phlegm Singing helps to get rid of phlegm Keep a mint or hard candy handy When singing, make sure you know what the song is about by knowing what all the words mean and what is going on in the music. If you must sing in a group,make sure you know what the other voices are doing Know what the music is doing Contrary to classical tradition, taking pictures is not a distraction It is harder to make an audience sit in quiet awe than it is to start a party Play to the back of the crowd Being hoarse in the morning does not mean you will be hoarse in the evening After performing, place a warm, wet towel around your neck and do not speak for 10 minutes Gargle with warm water containing 1/2 tsp each of salt and baking soda Try to wear only one fabric on stage Reason: Those lights get hot Learning how to sing well takes time. There are no shortcuts. Try to make as little air as possible come out of your mouth when you are singing a musical phrase Train your ears by playing only the first note of a musical exercise Always take one day a week off Unless it's called for, always stand with good posture (this does not mean standing stiffly) when you sing Any move you make will affect the sound you are trying to produce Keep the tip of you tongue below your teeth Don't exert yourself the day before a performance

General Tips

Record your lessons. Transcribe the tape into your notebook. Rely on how things FEEL, not how they sound. Listen to various recordings Don't try to imitate another singer Find a good ENT in your area.Use antibiotics wisely.

Posture

Your shoulders should be relaxed (try thinking of them as down and back). Your feet should be shoulder width apart. They can be parallel, or one foot can be slightly in front of the other. The sternum should be raised (you may imagine a string pulling up at the top of the sternum). Don't try to straighten the back, as in a military posture Keep your eyes looking forward. Don't look up or down, raising or lowering your chin. Keep the shoulders relaxed. Don't allow them to move up. This is a large source of tension. Don't allow the buttocks to stick out. This changes your posture. Tuck the pelvis under you. Don't push it forward Don't lock your knees. This is a main cause of shaking legs.

Breath

There are several different ways of breathing. Four common ways of breathing are incorrect. Chest, or cavicular, breathing is when the chest heaves up and down when breathing. Back breathingis when the most expansion occurs in the middle and lower back area. Belly breathingoccurs when the lower abdominal muscles are pushed outward, allowing only the lower part of the lungs to expand. Rib breathing, although less incorrect than the others, is still faulty. Rib breathingis when the only expansion occurs at the ribs. In correct breathing, the most expansion occurs at the ribs. There should be no chest breathing. When the ribs collapse, the breath needed for singing is expelled. Try to imagine that you're still breathing in, although you're singing, and the air is trying to escape. This breath support is vital. There is danger in the audible breath.This means that the vocal folds are never allowed to relax, they are always in use. This puts unnecessary strain on the vocal folds, and the folds will tire. Sometimes, there is enough of a rest in piece of music, or even a vocal exercise. This is an opportunity to breathe through the nose. Nose breathing is very helpful.

Practicing Tips

Practice in front of a mirror. Keep the tongue in a relaxed position. A relaxed larynx is ideal. (Legato singing & Jaw placement) Don't bring the lips forward to sing. Smiling while singing Don't be in a hurry to classify your voice. Finding a teacher Don't expect immediate change.

Vocal Health

Habitual coughing and throat clearing Straining the voice

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