LIFT YOUR DIAPHRAGM. So many singers learn to “belly breath” (breathe into the belly) and therefore tend to think that lifting their diaphragm feels similar to holding in their stomach. You can sing like this, but you are only using half your resources and not making full use of the power provided by the muscles in the back. To get your best breath for singing, you want to fill up your abdomen like an inner tube, you should feel expansion all the way around your body…yes, even in your back. Then to compress the air and support the vocal tone release, you lift the diaphragm muscle straight up from the center of your body. If you are used to the other way, it takes some practice to get the new diaphragm muscle memory, but well worth the effort!

Singing Tips...

An old joke says that an alto is just a soprano who can read music. While funny, and sometimes true in practice, it is ideal to be able to sing the voice part that your voice suits the best. For this reason, you will create more depth in your choir if you can learn to read music and sing harmonies. That way, if you truly are an interior voice such as an alto or tenor, you will be able sing it, rather than your director having to recruit someone who can read the music but whose voice may not be as well suited to the part.

Singing Tips...

While it is fun to copy someone else's singing style, be sure not to do so to the detriment of your physical voice. Very few people have vocal chords that lend themselves to singing like James Brown, Luciano Pavarotti, or Mariah Carey.

Singing Tips...

KEEP IT CLEAN. When practicing your vocal skills focus on creating a pure and clear tone first, free of airiness, rasp and other tonal changes added for stylistic purposes. If you cannot create a clear tone full of life and energy, you are not singing up to your potential.

Singing Tips...

JAW TENSION. Most people don’t realize how tense their jaw is…because it feels perfectly natural to them. Be sure to stretch out your face and jaw muscles and even make a specific point to monitor your jaw when singing to be sure it truly is relaxed. If your jaw is tense, you will not receive your best tone and perhaps even have trouble hitting some of the higher tones.

Singing Tips...

Don't forget about listening to recordings of singers from earlier times. For example, recordings of tenor Enrico Caruso are some of the earliest recordings of classical music. Or get out Cd's of your favorite singer or singers and sing along.

Singing tips...

INCREASE YOUR AIR SPEED for high notes and decrease your air speed for lower notes. Each frequency requires a specific air speed to create the absolute best tone. Many singers push too much air, too quickly, while singing low notes in an attempt to make the note louder. All this does is add stress and tension to the tone. Use your ears to tell you when the proper balance is reached. The tone should sound clear and pure before adding stylistic nuances. Free