Whether you are playing sports, tackling a personal project or singing your way through the day, there are always ways to improve your skills and build on your natural talent.
When it comes to singing, you might be blown away by just how simple it actually is to improve your voice by following a few simple rules. And best of all, often the results are almost instant!
Here are 10 of the best tips that are guaranteed to make you a better singer:
Tip 1 - Don't skip warm-ups!
Never underestimate the value of a good warm up. This is arguably the most obvious and most underrated tip of all.
Just like a jogger does a good stretch before a practice session or a marathon, your voice also needs to prepare itself for the big sing.
A warm-up will not only actively improve the response from your vocal cords, but it also reduces the possibility of injuring yourself.
Tip 2: Expand your range during your warm up
You will quickly notice an improvement in your voice during your vocal stretches. This will enable you to launch into a performance unprepared, with or without an audience.
Aim to sing one or two notes higher during a warm up than your actual performance requires. By doing this, you will better be able to relax, feel completely comfortable with the notes and gain more confidence whilst singing.
- Sing a few high notes before and after your warm up exercises and compare the results. You will be pleasantly surprised at the difference in ease and sound quality.
Tip 3: Sit up straight
The value and significant effect of having good posture are often overlooked. Poor posture will create an obstruction, which means that your breath will not flow freely from your lungs to your mouth.
Sit up straight and ensure that your shoulders, neck, and head are relaxed, your chin level and your head straight.
Tip 4: Have the correct stance
When you stand and sing, avoid stiffening your knees - rather keep them loose and moveable. Point your toes forward and place your weight on your soles and heels. Lastly, relax your abdominal and back muscles, but do not slouch.
- Sing a few notes whilst slouching and then compare the feeling and result by singing a few more notes while maintaining a good posture.
Tip 5: Watch your chin
Many singers have a tendency to drop or lift their chins while singing. Keep you chin level and do not drop it during low notes or lift it up during the high ones.
Instead, when you are singing the high notes, drop your jaw.
Tip 6: Breathe correctly
Always remember to breathe in lightly whilst you sing. Start off with a good deep breath, and then avoid gasping in the air. Keep your shoulders steady and do not raise them when taking a breath. And most of all, stay relaxed!
Tip 7: Open wide
This is one of those tips that's so simple it surprises many people.
Your warm ups and posture are ultimately the building blocks which lead to the grand finale - your voice.
Your mouth is where your sound exits and the wider your open it, the more sound can be released. When you don’t open your mouth, it can often result in a muffled, unclear or limited sound.
- Grab a mirror and keep an eye on your mouth whilst singing - you will more than likely find that you are not opening it nearly as wide as you thought you could.
Tip 8: Drink enough water
We all know that drinking water is good for you, and it is good for your voice too. Water keeps your cords well oiled (so to speak), prevents dehydration and helps to prevent hitting the wrong notes due to dryness.
- On performance day, steer clear of ice in your water as your vocal cords need to be warmed up and comfortable.
Tip 9: Phlegm
Milk is one example of a dietary choice that leads to the production of phlegm in your throat. This, in turn, could cause you to clear your throat whilst singing. If you ever have to do so, do it gently.
Throat clearing has been described by some teachers as sandpaper to your vocal cords. Phlegm can also make it seem like your voice is cracking, which is actually the air breaking through on its way out.
Tip 10: Avoid drying and bloating drinks
It is best to avoid wine, green tea, beer and carbonated drinks before singing.
Wine and green tea have a drying effect on your vocal cords which can lead to a sore throat. Beer and carbonated drinks can lead to bloating, and releasing that air during a show is not exactly ideal.
Rather reach for the water or even peppermint tea on performance day.
Cherish The Gift of Singing
These 10 simple tips will not only make you a better singer, but protecting your vocal chords from an early age will allow you sing for many years to come.
Singing not only elevates your mood, it also alleviates stress and minimises feelings of depression...and a gift like that should always be cherished and shared with the world.
About the Author: Julie Adams
I am a mom, a music lover and teacher from Tampa, FL. After completing a Bachelor of Music in Performance Arts, I traveled for several years before returning home where I started offering private piano and singing lessons as extra income. I met my husband in 2009 and 2 years later moved to Dallas where we settled down and I started focusing on vocal training to aspiring singers and performance artists of all age groups. I still enjoy playing the piano very much, and in my spare time you will catch doing some horse riding, drawing, doing some light reading, or just spending quality time with my family.