Singing Tips
A = Airflow.
Never hold your breath while singing. The airflow is what
creates and carries your vocal tone, so keep it flowing.
Avoid Clavicle Breathing and Belly Breathing -- instead, learn
the proper way to breathe for singing, called
diaphragmatic breathing. Fill the lower portion of your lungs as
if you had an inner tube around your waist that you were
evenly filling.
B = Breathing properly for singing
requires the shoulders to remain down and relaxed, not rise with
the breath intake. A singer will gain power to their voice
by strengthening the muscles in their ribcage and back.
C = Communicate the music's message.
During performance it is very important to communicate the
message of the song. If you make a "mistake" don't
point it out to your audience. It is most likely they did not
even notice.
D = Diaphragmatic Support.
Develop the strength and coordination of the diaphragm and
become a pro at controlling the speed of the airflow released,
the quantity of the airflow released and the consistency of the
airflow released.
E = Elasticity of the Vocal Folds. The vocal tone is created
as airflow bursts through the cleft of the vocal cords causing
them to vibrate/oscillate. The vocal folds can lose
elasticity due to misuse, lack of use and/or increase of age.
Be sure to train your voice with vocal exercises on a regular
basis to keep your voice in shape.
F = Free your natural voice.
Don't be a slave to any music style -- even your favorite one.
Learn to sing with your full and natural voice by developing
your vocal strength and coordination. Then add stylistic
nuances to achieve any singing style you desire.
G = Guessing Games.
Never guess the pitch you are about to sing. Hear the note
in your head before you open your mouth.
H = High notes
require consistent and steady airflow. Many students tend to
hold their breath as they sing higher. Let the air flow. Try
increasing your airflow and gauge your result.
I = Increase your breathing capacity and control
by doing breathing exercises every day. Be sure to avoid
patterned breathing. Singers must negotiate phrase lengths
of all different sizes, so it is important to be versatile.
J = Jumping Jacks.
If you are having trouble getting your body completely involved
with singing, try doing some cardiovascular activities, like
jumping jacks, for a few minutes before getting started again.
Sometimes your instrument simply needs an airflow wake-up call.
K = Know your limits.
Don't sing too high or too low. Don't sing to the point of
vocal fatigue. Never strain or push your voice.
Doing so will not result in a higher or lower singing
range, or a stronger voice, only a voice that has suffered undue
stress.
L = Low notes
are often sung with too much airflow. Try decreasing your
airflow to achieve a more natural, more relaxed tone.
M = Mirror.
Training in front of a mirror can help a singer discover many
things about their instrument, as well as confirm that other
actions are being done correctly. Be sure to rely on a
mirror during vocal training, but be able to leave the mirror to
face an audience.
N = Never sing if it hurts to swallow.
O = Open your mouth wider.
Nine times out of ten this will help you achieve a stronger,
more defined vocal tone.
P = Prepare your instrument before singing.
Singers are very much like athletes. Take care of your
body/instrument by stretching out the vocal muscles and
relieving the body of unnecessary tension before singing.
Q = Quit smoking.
Quit talking too loudly. Quit talking too much.
R = Raise the Soft Palate.
Creating a larger space inside your mouth by raising the soft
palate, or fleshy part of the back of our throat, helps achieve
a deeper more well rounded singing tone.
S = Sing through the vocal breaks.
If you do not teach the muscles the necessary actions to sing
through the trouble spots, success will never be achieved.
Sing through it, sing through it again, and again....
T = Tone Placement.
Learning the facts about tone placement and resonance make a
huge difference in the abilities of a singer. In simple
terms, a singer has numerous body cavities (nasal cavity, chest
cavity, etc.) and amplifiers (bones, ligaments, etc.) that act
as resonators. Focusing the vocal tone through the proper
resonating chamber with the proper support is important with
regard to controlling and developing your personal sound.
U = Unique Voice Under Construction.
Remember that your voice has its own unique fingerprint and is
constantly changing with our actions, environment, health
habits, etc. With this in mind, listen to your own voice
often and use vocal training tools to keep your voice on the
right track.
V = Vibrato.
Vibrato is a natural or forced fluctuation of a singing tone.
Do not concentrate on learning how to sing with vibrato.
Instead, concentrate on the basic foundations of singing,
breathing and support. When the proper coordination is
achieved, vibrato will occur naturally.
W = Water. Water. Water.
Drink room temperature water as often as you can to keep your
voice organ hydrated. If you only have cold or hot water
available, swish it around in your mouth for a moment.
This action will keep your voice organ from being startled or
stressed by different temperatures.
Y = You Can Sing with Impact!
Exercise your voice daily with contemporary voice lesson
products. Don't Just Sing when You Can Sing with Impact!
Z = Zzzzzzzz.
Be sure to get your rest. If you are tired, your voice
will show it. A tired body/instrument will not
allow you to produce your best possible sound. | 
