• Say "please" a lot.
    Carry jumper cables in your trunk.
    Keep it simple.
    Keep your promises (no matter what).
    Have a dog.
    Always accept an outstretched hand.
    be there when people need you.
    Make new friends but cherish the old ones.
    Ask for a raise when you feel you've earned it.
    Use the good silver.
    Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.
    Buy whatever kids are selling on card tables in their front yards.
    Look people in the eye.
    Stop blaming others.
    Return all things you borrow.
    Never underestimate the power of love.
    Sing in a choir.
    Rekindle old friendships.
    Return borrowed vehicles with the gas tank filled.
    Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.
    Keep secrets.
    Dance like no-one is watching. Sing like no-one is listening. Love like you've never been hurt.
    Leave everything a little better than you found it.
    Feed a stranger's expired parking meter.
    Wear polished shoes.
    Don't expect life to be fair.
    Watch a sunrise at least once a year.
    Send lots of Valentines Day cards and sign them "Someone who thinks you're terrific."
    Be the first to say hello.
    Wave at kids on school buses.
    Compliment three people everyday.
    Don't be afraid to say "I don't know."
    Avoid negative people.
    Over tip breakfast waitresses.
    Plant a tree on your birthday.
    Leave the toilet seat in the down position.
    Drink champagne for no reason at all.
    Floss your teeth.
    Take responsibility for every area of your life.
    Have a firm handshake.
    Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.
    Learn three clean jokes.
    Live your life as an exclamation, not an explanation.
    Don't be afraid to say "I made a mistake."
    Call your mother.
    Compliment even small improvements.
    Sing in the shower.
    Say "thank-you" a lot.
    Be forgiving of yourself and others.
    Remember other people's birthdays.
    Marry only for love.
    Count your blessings.
    Think big thoughts but relish small pleasures.
    Plant flowers every spring.
    Never refuse homemade brownies.
    Strive for excellence, not for perfection.
    Commit yourself to constant improvement.

Find your vocal range

Your range


Your range is the highest and lowest notes you can sing comfortably. Most of us have a feel for where we can sing best but may not know what the range is called.

Vocal ranges overlap a lot, as you can see by the chart, yet all ranges span roughly the same number of notes.

  • Soprano – the highest-pitched range, usually female.
  • Mezzo-soprano – many women sing in this range.
  • Alto – somewhat lower than soprano. Altos can’t usually hit the higher soprano range; conversely, sopranos have trouble with the middle to low alto range. Usually female, but some men can sing a low alto part.
  • Tenor – the highest men’s range. Few men are true high tenors.
  • Baritone – overlaps the bass and tenor ranges. This is the commonest men’s range.
  • Bass – the lowest common men’s range. Few men are true low basses.

Want to find your range? There’s a handy tool at https://playback.fm/vocal-range that can get you started. Or just ask your accompanist before practice one day.

Your change

Your voice has a distinct point at which it changes from one tone to another, often towards the top of your range. As you sing a rising scale, you’ll feel the change; you make your sound in a slightly different way. Singing across your change takes practice and work, so many singers opt to sing either down or up an octave to avoid it. That can push you out of your range, though, with unpleasant consequences for the sound of the song. The best bet is to practise singing over your change, until you can sing above, below and through it with ease. Try some of the Warmup tips like the Arpeggios, Solfège Ladders or Sirens.

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