If you've ever wondered how to be a better singer or better stage performer while singing, here are seven tips that will improve your singing performance.
Who knows, you may even win a singing contest! 1.
Relax and remember, there are "do-overs".
You're not on a stage, yet.
Practice makes perfect.
2.
There's no need to scream or over-project your voice.
Again, you're not on a stage.
And chances are you have a microphone close to you anyway.
Don't pretend like you're in a crowd - even if you are in a crowd.
When you force your voice, you hurt your vocal chords and don't project your voice naturally.
3.
Let the pressure come from your diaphragm.
This is the muscle below your lungs that helps force air out.
The power and energy behind your voice comes from the diaphragm.
This is why professional voice coaches always tell you to "sing from your diaphragm).
4.
Play with the pitch.
You can adjust the pitch in your voice to a more comfortable level, especially if you are not comfortable with the pitch the song is originally done in.
Of course, this only applies if you are doing a cover song.
Most of the time (especially in the Sensational Singer 2009 contest) you aren't actually doing a song that was published previously, so you have a lot of latitude with pitch.
This is one area where newbies or novices make a mistake.
They think that to properly perform a song, their voice has to be in a certain pitch.
This isn't the case.
Think of how many covers of songs were done where the covering artist does not even have close to the same pitch as the original artist.
It makes the song unique, even though strictly speaking, it is not.
Besides, you're not really looking to 'copycat' anyone.
Your talent is unique, and it should show.
5.
Practice! You don't become a good or even great singer overnight.
The more you exercise your vocal chords and train them, the better they will sound.
The truth is, good singers can be made, given enough practice.
Yes, to be a great singer or a top notch professional, you do have to have a lot of "raw" talent that can be refined.
But do you know how they are refined? Practice! Start to by singing something simple in a tone and pitch that you feel comfortable in.
Then, go to town! Sing in the car, shower, while doing chores, before you go to sleep, etc.
I wouldn't sing in front of your friends until you've had some practice, unless of course you feel completely comfortable with them.
6.
Videotape or record yourself.
There's a simple reason for this - you have a certain perception of your singing, and the way you hear yourself while you are performing might not be what you actually sound like.
You are your hardest critic - take advantage of that.
7.
Let your performance guide your movements.
Have you ever seen a musician on stage? Ever wonder how or why they do the "things" they do? The answer is instinct.
When you "feel" the music, you get into it, and move a certain way.
You do certain things.
You have certain expressions on your face.
All singers do this.
Don't ever sterilize your performance.
Do it right.