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

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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