Vocal Tips for Singers

Posture Stand straight and relaxed, your voice will be naturally richer and clearer Imagine you are hanging from a string that is attached to the top of your head Shoulders back, wide, the bottom of your ribcage naturally flaring open If you must sit, sit as if you are standing

Breathing (if posture is good, you will not have to think about breathing) Warm up Do gentle warm-up exercises daily, whether you plan to sing or not Start on easy notes, gradually work into higher notes, then (definitely) into head voice Practice all exercises with good posture and breathing Quick, small breaths (most people take in too much air) Silent Breaths (an open throat has no resistance and makes no sound) Feel breath flowing into the lower back, not the upper chest

Projection Sing from the teeth, not the throat, show some teeth as you sing On high notes use more head voice On lower notes use the mask (vibrate in the nose, teeth, hard-palate)

Open Airway Vibrate Sing with vibrato (vibration) whenever possible, it leads to the development of good vocal support and a relaxed throat Keep an open airway between nose and throat (back of tongue down and relaxed) Practice this by breathing in through the nose, then singing out through the nose and mouth together

Avoid Bad Habits Never shout (whistle, clap, wave, but dont shout) Ignore the urge to throat-clear, let things clear on their own, or sip water instead Sneeze without using your voice: learn to do this Avoid habitual coughing, only cough if you genuinely must.

Practice Good Habits Get adequate sleep at night Drink plenty of water Replace AC or heat with outdoor air whenever possible Sing with clear pronunciation; it helps your body produce3 a clear, warm voice.