SINGING TIPS – Vocal DOs and DON’Ts

I’ve been singing and performing for over three decades and I’ve put together these singing tips for you.  Here are my DO’s and DON’Ts for any singer.

All singers want to be at their peak.  We want to be able to hit that top note, sustain that perfect pitch, sing with strength, power and emotion at any time.  To do this, there are some basic singing tips that we all need to follow.  No matter the voice type, no matter the genre, these vocal DO’s and DON’Ts will work, but only if you follow them.

Please DO:

• Avoid dairy products and orange juice the day of a performance.
• Avoid places with toxic substances in the air (chemicals, tar, etc.).
• Stay relaxed (avoid stress), especially in the days before a performance.
• Eat a healthy diet (plenty of good protein, fresh fruits and vegetables).
• Get plenty of rest especially two days before a performance.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Train with a qualified teacher regularly.
• Speak at your own pitch (as in agreeing with someone by saying “mmm-hmm”).
• Vocalise daily.
• Warm up properly before singing.
• See a qualified ENT if you have prolonged hoarseness.
• Sing softly (mark) new songs when you are first learning them.
• Support your singing voice properly.
• Keep your larynx in a comfortable “Speech Level” at all times when singing (don’t let it lock down or jam up).
• Build your voice properly before trying to sing with a lot of power or volume.

Please DON’T:

• Belt songs.
• Clear your throat continually.
• Drink alcohol on or before the day of a performance.
• “Pull” the chest-voice (if you are hoarse after singing, see a teacher!).
• Cough excessively.
• Drink coffee directly before a performance.
• Smoke any substance.
• Talk a lot on the day of a performance.
• Try to talk or sing over a cold or laryngitis.
• Try to talk over loud noise, (like in bars, amusement parks, big parties, etc.).
• Try to sing if it hurts to swallow.
• Whisper loudly or sing in a “breathy” voice.
• Scream.
• Use recreational drugs and/or mind-altering drugs.
• Try to change your natural speaking voice (make it lower or raspy).

I’ve been a student of some fantastic voice teachers and these singing tips are prevalent among all of them, as well as many others I’ve researched.  Below is a graphic of these tips if you want to print them out.  If you wish to check out what I teach, my technique, please visit my playlist on YouTube.  There is a 9 week course of the technique I developed called “The Natural Artistry of Singing“.