A to Z Singing Tips

A simple article found on singing tips by Vocal Coach Yvonne DeBandi reproduced below:

A = Airflow. Never hold your breath while singing. The
airflow is what creates and carries your vocal tone, so keep it flowing.
Avoid Clavicular 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.