There are some tips I find myself telling student after student to help them really elevate their performance of a song and these tips apply across the board, no matter if you are recording, auditioning, or doing a gig, they are equally important. The same applies to an acting piece, for example a monologue. But for the sake of this article, I’ll refer to music.

1. KNOW THE SONG - That means know your lyrics, know the notes you are singing (the melody) know where you can take a breath before a big passage, basically know it like the back of your hand. That way all of your energy can go to connecting to the song and to your audience, you don’t want to waste effort remembering lyrics or hoping you make that high note in the chorus and so on.
 

​2. THINK ABOUT DYNAMICS - What do I mean by dynamics? I mean parts of the song that might get louder or softer, more dramatic or more reserved. It is colouring the song, you don’t want the song to sound all one level, all same-same, the next step will help you achieve this.

3. WHAT ARE YOU SINGING ABOUT? -What do the lyrics actually mean to you? If you wrote them then this is the easy part, if you are singing a song written by someone else, then how could the lyrics relate to something going on in your life that can help you connect with them more? For example, you are singing a song about heartbreak, pretty easy to connect to this right? Think about that person who broke your heart while you sing and watch the emotion of the song come to life.
 
 
4. HAVE AN OBJECTIVE - What do you want from the song? Who are you singing it too? What do you want from them? Have this in mind as it gives you focus.
 
I worked with two students doing a duet recently, and once they knew what they were fighting for in the song, it came to life. They weren’t just singing the notes, they wanted something from the other person. For example, one student wanted the other to say yes to the major life change they were proposing they share, the other student wanted them to give up, back off, well initially anyway, as the first student got their objective and by the end of the song, the other agreed to give it a try.

5. REHEARSE - Put all the pieces together and rehearse it, know it, love it, nurture it, iron out any remaining technical difficulties,
 
 
6. CONNECT - Now you know the words, know you know the melody, know you know what the lyrics mean to you and how they connect to your lived experience, plug into it. Allow yourself to be emotionally vulnerable and open, forget about being vocally technically correct, you have rehearsed all of that in remember?
 
 
 
7. HAVE FUN -  This is the most important one. Now you have put all the pieces together, settle in and enjoy it. Trust the process, trust you have done the work and you can now shine.
 
I know some of these concepts might sound intense or a lot for just singing a song, but they are tools you can use to stand out from the crowd and grab an audience by the heart when you perform and remember I am always here to help you out. 
 

If you are a singer, or a singing student or even a shower singer, it is important that you take some easy steps to look after your instrument.

Yes that's right, your voice is an instrument and because you cant pop down the local guitar shop for a restring, you need to take steps to make sure it is protected and cared for.

​Here are some of my top tips to get you started. ​

1. HYDRATE - As a singer, it is essential that you keep your water intake up. This ensures that your vocal folds/vocal chords are properly hydrated, otherwise they may tire easily and take longer to recover. It is also important to drink enough water throughout the day and not just when you are singing as drinking water only as you sing is not enough to ensure hydration. Staying hydrated, apart from being excellent for your health in general, helps ensures vocal cord lubrication and reduces the risk of damage. The other benefit of having a drink bottle with a straw close by is that you are able to do some straw phonation which is super easy and kind of fun and is also a perfect segue into the next tip.
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​​2. WARM UP YOUR VOICE - Warming up the voice is essential for singers and speakers, as it helps to gently stretch and prepare the vocal cords, improving flexibility and reducing the risk of injury. It is never advisable to sing without warming up, you are at risk of strain and pain if you do this. It is also a good idea to warm down after singing. Treat your voice and your vocal chords with the respect they deserve. Just as a runner would warm up and warm down after a marathon, your vocal chords need the same love and care.

Try some gentle humming, or some lip trills (bubbles) moving up and down a scale. For straw phonation - fill a cup with enough water to be able to blow bubbles using a straw, and then do your vocal exercises through the straw. It’s as though you’re taking a sip of water but instead you are pushing air through the straw into the water as you phonate your exercise. This is a great way to warm up the voice and gently expand your vocal range.

5. SLEEP - Quality sleep is paramount for singers as it allows the vocal cords to rest and repair, enhancing vocal endurance and performance consistency. Adequate rest also promotes overall well-being, ensuring singers remain mentally and physically prepared for demanding rehearsals and performances. It isn’t unusual for singers to keep irregular hours, touring, gigging, even recording can go late into the night, so try and catch those zzz’s when you can. If you are on a tour bus, make sure your sleeping area is dark and wear and eye mask, also get some noise cancelling headphones to ensure quiet. Without adequate sleep it won’t take long until you begin to unravel vocally.