A big show is coming, and you still worry about how to gain the spotlight. The most important thing to care about is your voice.
So, how to prepare your voice to sing successfully? The preparation stage is about caring for your vocal, warming up, and mastering the material.
You also need to avoid unhealthy food while keeping your throat hydrated.
This article will share more tips that you can apply to have the best performance.
Let’s join us and learn how to shine with your voice!
How To Prepare Your Voice To Sing?
There are a few things to bear in mind if you want to have a successful show. Experienced singers recommend the tips below.
#1. Take a good sleep
We’re all bored constantly hearing how necessary sleep is, but vocalists need adequate sleep.
One of the simplest ways to tell whether someone hasn’t gotten enough sleep is to listen for hoarseness in their voices. Insufficient sleep causes a vocalist’s voice to sound stressed and harsh.
During the three days before your performance, you should get the required 8 to 10 hours of sleep. However, it can be a challenging task for artists on the road or people who have insomnia.
Fortunately, they can achieve the same effect by limiting their caffeine and alcohol consumption and going to bed at the same time every night.
#2. Stay hydrated
For the three days before your performance, experts suggest drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water a day. That’s a lot more water than we often drink, so you’ll have to work very hard to get over it.
Also, try to stay away from anything containing dairy, caffeine, or alcohol.
You’ve tried to maximize your vocal folds by having a cup of water one hour before the performance. Your vocal folds get much more elastic when you are well moisturized.
Moreover, considering holistic approaches to maintain your overall well-being, therapies like NAD in NYC might offer potential benefits for vocal health, as they can support cellular function and energy production, contributing to the overall vitality and resilience of your voice and vocal cords.
Moisturized vocal folds are flexible and ready to react. Hence, you can do more with the instrument.
#3. Pay attention to your diet
Please never overlook the importance of dietary issues. Some foods and drinks either enhance or harm your ability to make an excellent, clear vocal performance.
Some foodstuffs, such as dairy, might affect the tone for unexpected mouth noises. Many vocalists consider dairy as a factor that hinders their ability to sing as well as they could.
You may not believe that drinking a cup of milk or eating a chocolate bar before practice is harmful. Think about how much excess mucus your body will generate!
Spicy dishes can cause several problems, including acid reflux and flatulence. So, avoid these foods too.
Professional vocalists avoid drying liquids or diuretics like alcohol, tea, and coffee. They dry up the vocal folds and lead the artists to go to the restroom more often.
Maintaining good dental hygiene is an excellent practice for voice artists in general. It’s best to brush your teeth.
You can even use flossing. Anything caught between your teeth might cause you to release too much saliva.
#4. Protect your vocal
You should take care of your vocal and protect it from the threats that hide around you. Distance yourself from settings where you know your voice may get irritated or keep solid vocal health will be challenging.
Voice actors try to avoid strong odors and hot foods, particularly when they suffer from acid reflux.
You have a deeper understanding of your voice and body than anybody else. So, you’re aware of the risks and the steps you may take to protect your voice.
Another thing to protect your vocal is to use it as little as possible.
For example, opera singers may have a whole day without speaking before their performance.
Whispering creates pressure on the vocal folds because it prevents the folds from vibrating classically. To establish resonance, the folds must come together.
Those folds are tense and stretched as you whisper. They can’t contact to produce a robust and rich sound.
#5. Warm-up your voice
Warm-up plays a vital role in the preparation phase of performance. There are several exercises you can try to make your voice in its best condition.
- Activate your breathing:
The first thing to do is to breathe correctly. To begin warming up, take a few ordinary breaths and try breath relaxation.
Be aware of your body when you breathe, and change it if required to get into the proper singing posture.
Also, pay attention to your chest and shoulders. Please make sure they’re comfortable and at a low level.
Ensure your breaths go into your lower belly instead of the chest. You can check by placing your hand on the lower abdomen. If it goes up and down as you breathe, you are doing it right.
To warm up your vocal cords, make an “S” sound when you exhale.
Repeat as many times as necessary until you think that you’re breathing slowly, thoroughly, and steadily.
- Relax the jaw
Put your hand slightly below your cheekbone. Then, slightly massage your jaw. When you massage, gradually open your mouth.
Repeat the motion a couple of times more.
- Do lip trills
Put your hand slightly below your cheekbone. Then, slightly massage your jaw. When you massage, gradually open your mouth. Repeat the motion a few times more.
Tongue and lip trills help warm up these parts in preparation for singing. You can warm up by doing some scales while practicing the trills.
Press your lips together and release the air to produce a raspberry sound to produce a lip trill.
Try making an “h” sound, then “b,” and finally a scale with the “b” sound.
Keep going as you’re comfortable with.
To make the tongue trip, you need to place your tongue right below the upper teeth. Then, exhale slowly to make an “r” sound.
- Practice with the scales
Begin with a lower pitch and move up to a simple scale. You may listen to scales on the internet and use them as your guideline if you’ve never studied the scales before.
It’s best to start with a “me” sound. Try to go as high as you’re comfortable with.
Then, to work down the way, you can use the “e” sound.
The video below will show you how the scales work. The couch introduces four scales that every singer should know. After that, you can move on to the next practice session to master the skill.
- Humming
Humming helps prepare your teeth, lips, and facial bones for singing.
Try to hum while pressing your lips together and loosening your jaw. It’s advisable to make a nasal sound while humming with the same breaths you often use to sigh. Then, move from a high to a low pitch.
How To Prepare For A Performance?
Now, your voice is ready. However, you have to prepare other things for a perfect performance.
#1. Choose the song
Choose songs that speak with you emotionally and emphasize your vocal range.
The songs should be within your vocal range. It’s best to go for the one that you have already sung successfully in public.
If you don’t have enough, don’t pick the songs that are too hard. Otherwise, your concert will fail.
#2. Learn the lyrics
You must fill the performance with emotional depth. Think about the significance of the lyrics of a song before singing in front of an audience.
Discover your connection to the music that will help you to portray the song’s hidden emotions better.
Analyze each word as you read the lyrics. Ask yourself what the composer is attempting to convey.
Make an effort to engage with the music on a personal basis. Consider a moment when you’ve experienced those emotions, such as when a piece of music is gloomy.
#3. Practice the song
The most fantastic method to give an impressive performance is to practice. In the days coming up to your show, be sure you rehearse a little bit every day.
Also, allowing yourself enough time to master the song can help you deliver a professional performance.
Before the show, make sure you have thoroughly memorized the song.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about preparing voice and keeping voices always healthy.
1. How can I strengthen my vocal cords?
By using standard, healthy techniques, you may develop your vocal cords. Before hitting high notes, it’s critical to warm up your voice.
It’s also essential to stay hydrated. Additionally, after long practice sessions or concerts, give your vocal a break.
2. What beverages are beneficial to the vocal cords?
Water, possibly with a dash of lemon, is the greatest beverage. Herbal teas, particularly those with licorice root, are healthful. You can also add a teaspoon of honey to the mix for a better result.
Caffeinated tea, beer, soda, and coffee, on the other hand, are terrible drinks. They might dehydrate you gradually.
3. Does smoking affect my voice?
Yes. The membrane of the voice box gets irritated and dried by smoking or exposure to the smoke, resulting in:
- Deteriorating vocal quality
- Laryngitis caused by reflux
- Increased urge to clean your throat.
Smoking impairs lung function as well. Singing turns out to be impossible without practical lung function. Speaking can also be challenging.
4. What does it take to have a nice voice?
It’s a mix of pitch, enunciation, loudness, tone, and some other factors. A solid performance works on consistency as well.
Final Words
Professional artists are aware that specific preparations are essential to performance. The pointers above are valuable for the stages and ensuring that you give the most amazing audition possible.
The ultimate rule is always to care for your voice and practice. Don’t overdo it because you may receive a reverse effect.
Hopefully, you will find this article helpful. If you need any further information, please feel free to ask.
And now, it’s time to drink some water and start your training session for the audition ahead!
